Contextual Design Example – Pay with Square
The Pay with Square app enables customers to make payments without using cash or a credit card. Instead, you simply say your name at your favorite retailers to make a purchase using the iPhone or Android App.
Lets take a walk through how Pay with Square works. After downloading the Pay with Square app, enter your credit card and personal information, including a picture of yourself. Search through a list of merchants who accept payments via Pay with Square. Tap the “open a tab”, walk over to the store, then something crazy happens. The employee at the cash register gets a notification when you enter the store with your picture. They greet you by name with a smile. Your purchase is recorded and that’s it.
You never even have to take your phone out of your pocket. They know who you are, greet you, and you can pay without even saying a word.
Pay with Square is a great contextual design example based on proximity. The app lets the merchant know if you are within range and shows an image of you. They can validate the payment with the customers tab by being with in range of the store, so payments are secure.