Individual biometric measurements are more secure and almost certainly will be included eventually in some wallet PCs. A biometric security system records a physical trait, such as a voiceprint or a fingerprint. For example, your wallet might demand that you speak aloud a random word that flashes on its screen or that you press your thumb against the side of the device whenever you are about to conduct a transaction with significant financial implications. The wallet will compare what it “heard” or “felt” with its digital record of your voice – or thumbprint.
Predictor: Gates, Bill
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Road Ahead,” Microsoft CEO Bill Gates writes: ”As cash and credit cards begin to disappear, criminals may target the wallet PC, so there will have to be safeguards to prevent a wallet PC from being used in the same manner as a stolen charge card. The wallet PC will store the ‘keys’ you’ll use to identify yourself. You will be able to invalidate your keys easily, and they will be changed regularly. For important transactions, just having the key in your wallet PC won’t be enough. One solution is to have you enter a password at the time of the transaction. Automatic teller machines ask you to provide a personal identification number, which is just a very short password. Another option, which would eliminate the need for you to remember a password, is the use of biometric measurements. Individual biometric measurements are more secure and almost certainly will be included eventually in some wallet PCs. A biometric security system records a physical trait, such as a voiceprint or a fingerprint. For example, your wallet might demand that you speak aloud a random word that flashes on its screen or that you press your thumb against the side of the device whenever you are about to conduct a transaction with significant financial implications. The wallet will compare what it ‘heard’ or ‘felt’ with its digital record of your voice – or thumbprint.”
Biography:Bill Gates, the most influential technology entrepreneur of the late 20th century, was the primary author of the prediction-packed 1995 book “The Road Ahead” and is the founder and CEO of Microsoft Corporation. (Entrepreneur/Business Leader.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure
Subtopic: Internet Appliances
Name of publication: The Road Ahead (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 4: Applications and Appliances
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 75
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne