14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has been rumored to unveil three new smartphones this year, including the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 6C, a successor to the lower-cost iPhone 5C launched in 2013.
Now, a new patent shows that an interesting feature might be making its way into some versions of the new iPhone (probably the high-end ones). A recently surfaced patent reveals that the Cupertino tech giant is working on a new biometric unlocking system for future iPhone models.
Face recognition coming to the iPhone
The patent details a system that works in conjunction with the front-facing camera in order to capture a user’s image for analysis. So, upcoming iPhone iterations could be unlocked by virtue of the user just looking at their phones.
As Apple explains in the patent, this system could be able to eliminate some of the time-consuming steps necessary for unlocking a device. At the moment, users are expected to either drag a slide over the bar or input a password - options some users don’t necessarily prefer.
Face unlocking doesn't require much effort from the user’s part, and on top of that, the system can be used to authorize other family members to use the device.
The technology is already available on the market
Face recognition technology used to automatically unlock a device has already been made available for Android phones in the form of a feature called Smart Lock. But Google has issued a warning saying that the system is less secure than other methods of protection, such as passwords for example.
The concern is that somebody who looks very much like you could be able to unlock the phone in your absence.
Earlier this month, Alibaba founder Jack Ma announced a new payment system based on smartphone face recognition.
The system has been dubbed “Smile to Pay,” and all you need to do when using it is smile at your smartphone and let the camera scan your visage in order to confirm the purchase you have made.
As always, just because Apple has a patent doesn't mean we will necessarily see the technology make it into real life products. It’s possible that the tech giant is just experimenting with the idea and nothing more.
