Cash is at times hard to find in today’s China, where QR codes are in use at virtually all shops and roadside stalls throughout the nation. Nowadays, a quick scan using the WeChat or AliPay app on your smartphone is all it takes to make an instant payment, saving you from the hassles of tending the exact amount or ending up with a pocket full of filthy coins.
Now Chinese tech giants want to make that process even simpler: without even the need for a smartphone, all you might need to do is glance at a camera before you are free to go with your shopping. This could even be of particular use when your phone is running out of power or you find yourself somewhere with poor cellular coverage.
