Gym wants fingerprints

pinkypinky

So I can't really think of a better place for this discussion. I'm a member of Jackie Skellys - soon to be re-launched as Energie. There's been a lot of refurbishment at the gym and I'm delighted to see it. New machines have still to come but are impending. I've just renewed my membership (annual upfront) and it is the most convenient gym so I'm not going to leave but:

They are replacing the keyring barcode cards with fingerprint entry. I'm really not happy handing over my fingerprints just so I can work out. I'm told that it's just an encrypted version and nothing is stored but I'm still not keen. They've given me some literature; it's layman friendly but I still feel it's a level of security unnecessary for a gym

What do people think of this development? I imagine they'll be doing it in all their clubs.

the drifter

fingerprint and eye scanners are the way of the future...embrace them!

UnknownSpecies

It's so you can't lend your keyring to anyone who is not a member!

eden_my_ass

To be fair it is a simple way to authentic yourself...this was introduced in my gym some years back, at the time the literature stated that they were NOT holding full fingerprint scans, rather X number of distinctive points of a particular finger that would be enough for them to distinguish you from their other members...not the same as them having your "prints on file"!

pinkypinky

pinkypinky wrote: »

soon to be re-launched as Energie. .

As in Energie or NRG of Cork & Galway ?

Orando Broom

I have no problem with the fingerprint scaner but I was not too happy with them drawing a pint of my blood. But as the fella said to me 'suere you have seven pints more of the stuff'. It's a valid point.

Orando Broom

dorgasm wrote: »

It's so you can't lend your keyring to anyone who is not a member!

there are several inciodnets of people having thier finger cut off by people to access thier gyms.

True Story.

Happend my cousin's, mates' brother there a few months back.

pinkypinky

RoverJames wrote: »

As in Energie or NRG of Cork & Galway ?

Energie are a UK chain who have bought 10 of the 11 Jackie Skelly clubs. They spell it Énergie and have purple-pink colour branding.

DamienH

Use your baby finger, no one ever robs anything with their baby finger!

pinkypinky

dorgasm wrote: »

It's so you can't lend your keyring to anyone who is not a member!

Oh I understand that. I'm just wondering if they can force me to do it? I have confirmed they will have cards as well but will charge a large amount (don't have the exact) to get one.

Renn

Yeah I'm pretty sure I'd quit any place that started introducing something like that.

PeakOutput

if its any consolation the laws that cover privacy and personal information say that any personal information they have(including fingerprints) cannot be used for any other purpose then the one they were taken for

so it would be illegal for them to use them for any other reason then identifying you as you walk into the gym

aFlabbyPanda

we use these in work and to be honest I don't see the problem with it. what do you think they are going to do with them?

and I'd actually like it. I'm always forgetting to bring my card with me.

Wonkagirl

I'm with Brian.. it sounds really bloody handy to me. (if you pardon the pun)

Is it that i'm overly naive, or that are you overly paranoid pinky?

I'm in JS on shelbourne road, cant say the 'energie' changes have been signficant, but i liked it as it was anyway, it's one of the better branches.. this fingerprint development is probably the biggest change they've made- and i'm all for it!

Zamboni

Post this thread in the conspiracy theory forum for some awesome responses

Sangre

Data Protection Commissioner is very wary of stuff like this. I think you'll find something on his site with regards biometric data storage. You can even give them a call and they'd be happy to help.

The Davestator

Zamboni wrote: »

Post this thread in the conspiracy theory forum for some awesome responses

Big time, would be funny to see the outrage.

Op- it's the way things are going and in a few years most gyms will have this. They have it for lockers in some theme parks in the USA don't they?

Sangre

http://www.dataprotection.ie/docs/Biometrics_in_the_workplace./244.htm

This relates to the workplace but a lot of the same principles apply. You'd wonder what systems are in place to remove the information once you leave.

Pontificatus

You're more at risk with them having your bank details than your fingerprints.

eden_my_ass wrote: »

not the same as them having your "prints on file"!

This

DamienH wrote: »

Use your baby finger, no one ever robs anything with their baby finger!

and this

Red Alert

Yeah they've done that in Rathfarnham too. Most of those systems don't "encrypt" the fingerprint per-se, but they just extract a information about the overall patterns. So even if somebody stole the computer they couldn't actually re-create your fingerprint.

It does mean that you won't have to pay a ridiculous amount of money if you lose your card.

Wonkagirl

Red Alert wrote: »

It does mean that you won't have to pay a ridiculous amount of money if you lose your card.

i was forever losing (correction: snapping) my card, and they never once charged me in JS ballsbridge?

It's weird, cos they always get such a slating, but i've always found them brilliant.. the instructors are super, the place is always spotless, the guys at the desk are very helpful.. i've never had the woeful experiences that others seem to have had.. plus, i broke my elbow last yr and they froze my membership for 4 months for me, not a bother..

anyway, OT!

Orando Broom

Red Alert wrote: »

Yeah they've done that in Rathfarnham too. Most of those systems don't "encrypt" the fingerprint per-se, but they just extract a information about the overall patterns. So even if somebody stole the computer they couldn't actually re-create your fingerprint.

It does mean that you won't have to pay a ridiculous amount of money if you lose your card.

I alwys bring my fingers out with me so it's handy that I won't forget them.

squod

The finger print system will last about a month. Very unreliable. They'd be far better off put their cash into buying some squat racks, lifting platforms and new staff.

JayRoc

First I thought it was a joke that this was actually being proposed.

Now I'm just left scratching my head that people could this is A) necessary or acceptable.
I'd like to think that I wasn't being paranoid on a Mulder-esque scale if I objected to my gym scanning my fingerprint on entry, thanks very much.

Barry.Oglesby

What do people think can happen? Worst case?

Gyms and businesses have a massive problem with people ripping them off. Card systems are expensive to run as are most other forms of access control. If we had some spare cash we'd be biometricking the **** outta people!

The Davestator

Jaysus, Some people here need to ring Joe Duffy first thing Monday. He'd love this topic.

If you don't like it, even after reading the info, leave.

As I said, it's the way things are going and I think it's great

TheVoodoo

When i was in secondary school, there were two sets of Identical twins, who would always only buy one membership to anywhere. So when the photo was taken, they'd obviously look the same. I guess that you can lend your fingerprint to anyone, so its a way to eliminate sharing of fobs/memberships. + As stated above, its the way forward. It's not like they can really do anything else with your fingerprint anyway.

Much more practical as well, there can be none of the ' oh i left my card at home' Because, you can really leave your fingers at home. Not being smart, but i'd say the effort of repeatedly looking up profiles etc on a system becomes annoying after a while.

FruitLover

PeakOutput wrote: »

so it would be illegal for them to use them for any other reason then identifying you as you walk into the gym

As opposed to all the other uses they might have...

...

Gillo

Really don't see the problem, much handier than a card. I accept that some people may have concerns about their finger prints being taken, but really don't understand it.
Can someone clearly explain what they are?

King of Kings

JayRoc wrote: »

First I thought it was a joke that this was actually being proposed.

Now I'm just left scratching my head that people could this is A) necessary or acceptable.
I'd like to think that I wasn't being paranoid on a Mulder-esque scale if I objected to my gym scanning my fingerprint on entry, thanks very much.

I hear and agree with you.

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

What do people think can happen? Worst case?

Gyms and businesses have a massive problem with people ripping them off. Card systems are expensive to run as are most other forms of access control. If we had some spare cash we'd be biometricking the **** outta people!

I simply don't want any organisation (even the state if it were possible) having any of my bio data on file.
It's how I feel - I don't intend to be the next larry murphy or anything I just feel uncomfortable with anybody having such personal data.
I can close a bank account if I'd like and move on but they'll have my prints for ever.

If I'm not allowed opt out I'll be quitting there.

I'm surprised very few here actually find this objectionable -

chin_grin

From someone who used to support biometric (fingerprint) readers they DO NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR FINGERPRINT.

(Sorry for the caps!)

As mentioned earlier the scanner will take certain points of your fingerprint and convert this to a hexidecimal number. Now that's your own ID. This is stored in the applications database against your code (if you have to log in with a number too). There is no one else who'll have the same mapped points (hex number) as you.