Liquid Avatar Technologies, a software company headquartered in Vancouver, has introduced Smart Age, a proprietary age verification service that is designed to make it easier for store proprietors and operators to go about verifying the age of customers looking to purchase age-restricted products such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco and lottery tickets.
The 'Smart Age' age verification services make use of facial scanning technology in conjunction with blockchain, allowing biometric verification data to be securely stored in Liquid Avatar's digital wallet app. This allows customers to use a smartphone app to present their information to store clerks in order to prove their age. This in turn will allow for store clerks to ensure that age-restricted products do not end up in the hands of under-age individuals, whilst also fighting against identity theft and document fraud.
Having recently completed a substantial pilot program with the Ontario Convenience Store Association, the next step for Liquid Avatar Technologies is to work towards implementing its platform at 8,000 stores across the province of Ontario.
In the words of Dave Bryans, CEO of the Ontario Convenience Store Association, the 'Smart Age' age verification service "will go a long way to providing increased confidence to Ontario families that our channel is the most responsible when selling some of the most sensitive age restricted products in today’s ever-changing market place."
Image Credit: Liquid Avatar Technologies
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Facial Scanning Verification
- Facial scanning technology paired with blockchain can be utilized in age verification services to increase security in age-restricted product purchases.
- Mobile Age Verification
- Mobile applications providing secure verification of age can eliminate the need for physical identification when purchasing age-restricted products.
- Blockchain for Identity Protection
- Utilizing blockchain technology in age verification can provide a secure method of storing and accessing personal information, and can be extended to other industries for identity protection purposes.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Retail Industry
- Age verification services can be implemented in stores selling age-restricted products like alcohol, tobacco, and lottery tickets to increase responsibility and reduce underage sales.
- Technology Industry
- The development of facial scanning and blockchain technology can be extended to other industries to provide secure identification and verification services.
- Government Industry
- The adoption of blockchain technology in government identification systems can provide a secure way of storing and accessing citizen's personal information while reducing fraud.
