While gesture and voice-controlled technology have lots of unexplored potential, biometrics are the epitome of frictionless tech. Facial recognition is already in use at some airports where it significantly cuts down on dangerous lines and bottlenecks. If your home or workplace recognizes you, it can immediately revert heating, lighting, ergonomics and all IOT-enabled devices to your preferences. Studies have shown that customers are willing to adapt to these technologies if the tradeoff in privacy brings enhanced experience. That being said, there are significant privacy concerns around biometrics that now need to be urgently considered.
As we return to shared and public spaces, the amazing experiential technologies that we’ve grown accustomed to will have to adapt along with us. This is a daunting challenge as well as an exciting opportunity for technologists and designers to dream up creative new solutions.