The future of banking security is within you - literally
Technological innovations are certain to replace passwords and the smart money seems to be on our identities being secured by our own bodies. Microsoft recently announced that its latest version of Windows will feature support for face, iris and fingerprint recognition but tests are taking place that use a less visible body part; your heartbeat. Canadian firm Bionym has created the Nymi Band, a bracelet that stores the unique rhythm of the wearer’s pulse. When paired with a smartphone app via Bluetooth the bracelet becomes part of a sophisticated security process matching the pre-stored heart rhythm with that of the wearer. If it doesn’t match, the transaction cannot continue. Royal Bank of Canada is among the first to run trials with the Nymi Band, which could also be used to prove identity remotely according the manufacturers.
Physical contact in the workplace may be an advantage
It may be a touchy subject but a new study says that physical contact between workers can bring positive benefits to a business. It’s not about the kind of contact that could lose people their jobs or make them feel uneasy, but genuine warmth that makes colleagues feel good. Writing for Fast Company Michael Grothaus highlights a study undertaken in 2009 which studied NBA players. By analysis video of games the researchers found that the more players made contact with a high-five or back-slap in the early part of the season the more success the team had. David J. Linden, professor of neuroscience at John Hopkins University, says that “when appropriate” touch can bring benefits in the workplace: "Friendly touching serves as social glue that binds people in the workplace and in the community. It engenders feelings of trust and cooperation. It makes co-workers have more team spirit and more empathy for each other." Clearly ‘appropriate’ is the key word and while a handshake is generally acceptable to all other actions can be misunderstood.
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When risk assessments go bad; children’s center bans strollers
Health and safety should be taken seriously and where there’s genuine risk assessments are essential. However sometimes rules and regulations can be taken too far, often by over-zealous public officials. In the British town of Darlington mothers are furious after the local authority banned the use of strollers…. at a children’s center. The council had decided that taking strollers inside the building could be a risk so parents were forced to leave them outside. As this was itself a risk, of theft, the officials advised chaining strollers to railings. Outraged mothers who did not want to put babies into cold or damp strollers after being inside the center stopped using it. The council has now agreed to open talks with parents to find an “acceptable compromise”.
