Technology may soon eliminate one of the most-hated human experiences: the line at the DMV.
Microsoft is developing a program that could allow users to make authenticated video calls with government agencies, and has collaborated with the Indian government to link the country's citizen database, Aadhaar, with Skype, The Indian Express reported.
Though still in the very early stages of development, the program could utilize fingerprint or iris scans to authenticate users, Microsoft Corporation President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith told the Express while visiting New Delhi Thursday. By ensuring that users are who they say they are, the technology would enable people to video call government agencies to obtain licenses or even testify in government proceedings without ever leaving their homes.
Here’s what @BradSmi has to say on digital transformation in India. pic.twitter.com/xWWGpYEKCn— Microsoft India (@MicrosoftIndia) February 18, 2016
The voluntary database Microsoft is using to develop the program, Aadhaar, had nearly a billion Indians enrolled at the end of January, and assigns each citizen a 12-digit identification number--similar to a Social Security Number--that would be linked to a user's Skype account, Business Insider reported.
Given the nature of the information the program would store, Microsoft will likely be confronted with concerns about privacy and Internet security, a topic that seemed to be of high priority for the company's president during his visit to India this week. On Thursday, Smith announced the country's first Microsoft Cybersecurity Engagement Center, Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik tweeted.
Great to have @BradSmi visit India and announce India's first Microsoft Cybersecurity Engagement Center, located in Gurgaon.— Bhaskar Pramanik (@B_Pramanik) February 18, 2016
If proven successful in India, Microsoft's authenticated video calling program will likely be introduced elsewhere--to the relief of many.
After all, while technology may be criticized for making people less social, it seems safe to say that waiting at the DMV is one human interaction most of us could do without.