A crude form of biometric security is emerging in what seems to be the hyper-critical climate of English politics. Problems with foreign policy or disputes at home? No, Gordon Brown is scrutinized for the condition of his hands:

Fidgety, ink-stained and with nails bitten to the quick, Gordon Brown’s hands (above) are fast becoming a visible symbol of the pressures he is under.

“Since he became prime minister, Gordon Brown looks cared for above the eyebrows – he has had a decent haircut”. That’s the pithy verdict of Veronique Henderson, co-author of Style Matters for Men.

The punk movement clearly failed. The article points out how the Cambodian death squads would kill people based only on the appearance of hands:

It was a lesson learned well by the Khmer Rouge, which ruled Cambodia during the 1970s. In a bid to root out individual thinkers, Pol Pot’s soldiers would routinely examine people’s hands. Those with soft palms were deemed “intellectuals” and despatched to the Killing Fields.

This all reminds me of the idea that biometric readers could point out health issues for users. Roll your finger across the sensor and receive data on whether you need to wash, or take your vitamins.