Passwords’ endNew Apple facial recognition tech could make passwords obsolete
Passwords could become a thing of the past for Apple iPhone and iPad users; the tech company recently revealed a patent application for what it is calling “Low Threshold Face Recognition,” a tool that would allow users to unlock their phones by simply picking up the device and pointing it at their face
Apple's facial recoginition system may soon render passwords obsolete // Source: techxus.com
Passwords could become a thing of the past for Apple iPhone and iPad users.
The tech company recently revealed a patent application for what it is calling “Low Threshold Face Recognition,” a tool that would allow users to unlock their phones by simply picking up the device and pointing it at their face.
The idea for the new technology is to enable multiple users to personal their settings, background, and personal profile on a particular device using facial biometric software. This feature in turn would allow an entire family or several individuals to share an iPad or even an iPhone.
In the past battery constraints and processing power limited the ability of biometric software to quickly scan an individual’s face to determine if they were the appropriate user. With Low Threshold Face Recognition, Apple said its technology reduces the impact of lighting conditions and biometric distortions that previously placed a great strain on an electronic device.
Unlike traditional facial recognition software, which analyzes a user’s entire face, Apple’s technology would rely on a “high information portion” of a human face, like the areas around the eyes, mouth, and the tip of the nose to conserve energy.
In addition, the lower power consumption of the facial recognition tool would allow the biometric password to be constantly active enabling users to pick up an iPad or iPhone and instantly have the camera scan their face and unlock the phone.
Apple’s most recent technological pursuit was only made public this past week, but the patent was filed in June of 2009. It is unclear when the technology will be ready, but in 2010 it was rumored that Apple had acquired Polar Rose, a Swedish facial recognition company for $29 million.
