在不远的将来 实体信用卡将彻底消亡?

 　　Imagine strolling into your local supermarket, popping your essentials into a basket, heading to the bagging area - where no items are unexpected - and walking out with your weekly shop.

　　想象一下，当你漫步在附近的超市，把你的日常用品“啪”的一下扔到篮子里，再前往装袋区，随后把你每周的日常消耗品带出超市即可。

　　There is no need to make a payment, no fiddling¹ with coins, and no placement of a debit² or credit card in a terminal. In fact, there is no till at all.

　　在这个过程中，付款是冗余的：既不需要摆弄硬币，也没有地方把信用卡或者借记卡放在pos机终端。事实上，根本就没有付款柜台。

　　This is not casual shoplifting but a realistic prospect³ of the future way to pay - when technology recognises your presence, scans your shopping, and invisibly takes payment from your account.

　　以上过程并非偶然的偷窃，而是对未来支付方式的合理展望：科技手段可以识别出你的存在，并扫描出你的购物品，从而在无形中帮助用户在帐户里扣钱支付。

　　在不远的将来 实体信用卡将彻底消亡?

　　Amer Sajed, the chief executive of Barclaycard, says it will spell the steady demise⁴ of the physical plastic credit card, which his company introduced to the UK 50 years ago.

　　巴克莱银行的首席执行官阿梅尔·萨伊德指出，新的支付方式意味着传统信用卡的逐步消亡，这种基于物理介质的信用卡正是由巴克莱银行在50年前引入英国的。

　　"People will be able to seamlessly shop going between the web, an app or in store," he says.

　　他说：“人们将能够在网上，app以及实体店里进行衔接完美的购物。”

　　It will also create a battle for control of your digital wallet between banks and technology companies, as well as prompt debate over our privacy and security.

　　银行和推出隐性支付的公司将为用户数字钱包的控制权展开争夺。个人隐私和帐户安全等潜在问题也将迅速引起争论。

　　Credit cards have evolved since 1966, but the basic procedure of payment has remained the same. A card is either handed over, or the number on it is read out or entered into a machine.

　　从1966年起信用卡就一直在进化，但是核心支付过程却从未变过：人们要么把卡手把手地交给售货员，要么将卡塞进机器，读取上面的数字和信息。

　　All that requires the existence of a plastic card, but Mr Sajed says this is being replaced by wearable items.

　　这样的交易过程仅仅需要一张信用卡，但是萨伊德先生表示，这些将被可穿戴设备所取代。

　　At a display for Barclaycard staff, he shows off a plastic ring, a bracelet⁵ and a keychain which all contain a chip allowing the shopper to make payments on credit.

　　在对巴克莱银行员工的展示中，他展示了信用指环、项链以及钥匙环，这些都包括了可以让购物者通过信用卡支付的芯片。

　　This, he says, is just a bridge to technology that will see customers identified by their eye or fingerprint⁶, located via their smartphone, and able to shop without queuing up at a checkout⁷.

　　他表示，通过这样的途径，高科技可以利用眼睛和指纹识别分辨顾客，同时也可以利用智能手机来定位出顾客的位置。这样在购物时就不需要在收银台前排队了。

　　Although cash, cheques and indeed cards will remain an option for shoppers, he says, these new ways of paying will take a growing share of the payments market in 10 years' time.

　　尽管现金、支票以及信用卡将会仍然成为顾客支付的选择，但是他表示，这种可穿戴式的支付手段将在10年内逐渐占据更大的市场份额。

1 fiddling   

微小的

参考例句：

• He was fiddling with his keys while he talked to me. 和我谈话时他不停地摆弄钥匙。
• All you're going to see is a lot of fiddling around. 你今天要看到的只是大量的胡摆乱弄。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦

2 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

3 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

4 demise   

n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让

参考例句：

• He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标，但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
• The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。

5 bracelet   

n.手镯，臂镯

参考例句：

• The jeweler charges lots of money to set diamonds in a bracelet.珠宝匠要很多钱才肯把钻石镶在手镯上。
• She left her gold bracelet as a pledge.她留下她的金手镯作抵押品。

6 fingerprint   

n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。

7 checkout   

n.（超市等）收银台，付款处

参考例句：

• Could you pay at the checkout.你能在结帐处付款吗。
• A man was wheeling his shopping trolley to the checkout.一个男人正推着购物车向付款台走去。