[File photo]

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has developed an unprecedented VR payment technology, which allows users to pay for goods and services with a simple gesture.

Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial demonstrated the cutting-edge technology during the 2016 Computing Conference held in Hangzhou on Oct. 13. By using VR gears, a simple gesture such as a nod or even a stare allows Alipay users to pay for goods and services. The technology will be put into commercial use as soon as the end of 2016, Thepaper.cn reported.

According to the report, users can check the details of online goods via VR glasses, and confirm purchases by nodding or staring at the goods on screen. Traditionally, VR technologies have only been used to showcase items, meaning that users have to remove the VR gears to complete the order manually. With the help of the new technology, however, users can keep their gears in place while shopping online, upgrading the whole shopping experience.

Apart from VR payment technology, facial recognition will also be used on Alipay by the end of the year. Alipay has developed the world’s first facial eyeprint recognition technology, with an accuracy of 99.5 percent. By using this technology, users will be able to forgo any mobile applications or codes when completing a purchase.