Tired of all that time-consuming swiping? Credit cards using "contactless" technology allow users to pay for merchandise by holding the card near a special reader instead of swiping it or handing it to a clerk. The announcement of new "blink" cards by JPMorgan Chase & Co. marks the first push to introduce the cards to U.S. consumers on a wide scale. This technology is already in use to some extent in Europe and Asia.

Photo courtesy Chase Blink card and terminal

In this article, we'll find out what sets blink cards apart, whether or not they are safe to use and why credit-card companies are so interested in this new technology.