Amazon will let customers at some Whole Foods stores pay with a simple wave of their hands.

The company announced it is bringing palm scanners (掌纹扫描仪) to one of its Whole Foods stores in Seattle, with plans to roll out the new payment system to eight stores in the Seattle area in the coming months. Customers will hold their hands above the scanner for a contact-free payment method.

The scanners are already available (可用的) at one of those Seattle stores — its Madison Broadway location. Amazon plans to increase availability further after this first test run. “We’re always looking for new ways to improve the shopping experience for our customers,” said Arun Rajan, chief technology officer at Whole Foods.

To make use of the new service, customers will give Whole Foods their bank card information to make a connection with their palm print. They can choose to use a different payment method, such as cash, check or other bank cards, in later visits.

Amazon has already tried the system, which it calls Amazon One, at some of its own stores in Seattle, including Amazon Go and Amazon Go Grocery, which have allowed customers to pick the things they want and then leave the store without checking out, as sensors (传感器) and cameras track their purchases.

That checkout-free technology has been criticized (批评) as a way to avoid the need for workers.

Whole Foods said this new palm scanner will not have any effect on employment in the stores where it is offered.

“Amazon One is an additional payment choice at checkout, and Whole Foods Market Team Members will continue to maintain all of their present responsibilities,” said the company’s statement.

A Beijing subway line linking with Daxing International Airport has now started a new recognition system, which allows passengers to enter and exit stations by just scanning the palm of a hand, according to a report in China Daily. The system is available at the ticket machines and gates at all stops along the line.

The pilot program was launched on Sunday on the Daxing Airport Express subway line to spare passengers the trouble of swiping a card or scanning a QR code to catch a train, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport said.

Any people aged 14 and above can first register the print of either palm through a simple, automated process and provide relevant information to authorize the payment gateway of WeChat, a popular messaging app in China. The registration is a one-time process and doesn’t require renewal. Once the palm print is registered, a passenger can just place the palm above the scanning machine when entering or exiting a subway station. The ticket gate will open automatically if the palm scan matches the palm print registered. The fare is automatically deducted (扣除) after exit.

To protect the users’ information, the system uses data masking and encryption (加密) technologies and it combines the use of palm print and vein mapping, which are different for every individual. It can recognize the user’s palm print and veins without contact, which is healthier, faster and safer than the ordinary check-in methods.

Currently, it is very useful for the elderly and those who have physical limitations. They can take the subway without using smartphone apps. Passengers can take subway trains if they do not have cash or when they forget their subway cards.

The system can be gradually used in offices, schools, gyms and restaurants, as it requires no contact and is therefore more safe and efficient.