Airport Convenience Store Now Requires a Debit Card Entry

Technology really freaks me out sometimes.

My fiancé, Ross, recently traveled to Texas and came across the most high-tech convenience store I have ever heard of.

“I walked up to the store at the Newark airport,” he said, “And I was stopped by turnstiles. In order to enter, I had to put my debit card in a reader, then the turnstile electronically opened.”

He reflected how, on the surface, it looked like a normal convenience store, but there was no register and no cashier.

He grabbed what he wanted and asked the woman stocking shelves where he could pay.

“It’s already paid for,” she said. “You just have to walk out.”

He gave her a puzzled look and exited the store with his items in hand. He later checked his account and noticed the convenience store had correctly charged him for the items he purchased.

Apparently, a sensor was able to pick up what Ross had chosen as he exited the store.

Is it just me, or is that mind-boggling?

I know the power of technology continues to grow and instances like this certainly decrease the spread of germs, but my brain cannot fully comprehend how a sensor could possibly know that Ross walked out with a bottle of water and a bag of chips.

Personally, it feels like Big Brother is watching more and more closely these days.

Where does the line lie when it comes to security protection, privacy, and/or the involvement of technology?

Does that chip reader hold on to his information?

Does it ever charge a customer incorrectly?

Am I overthinking this?

Technology is cool, but to me, this method is questionable.