A New Apple Patent Shows Technology That Could Replace FaceID And TouchID In Coming iPhones. Apple iPhones are easily recognizable by the large notch at the top of the screen. It appeared for the third consecutive year on the iPhone 11 line this year. The reason why Apple can’t get rid of the notch is that it houses all the sensors needed for the company’s FaceID. However, sooner or later, Apple will have to update its design and, unless it can place all the sensors under the screen, it may be necessary to find another way for users to identify themselves securely. And it seems that the Cupertino engineers are working hard on at least one alternative.
A new patent published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office, and quickly discovered by AppleInsider, reveals what part of our bodies we could use in the future to unlock Apple devices. Save your guesses, the answer is our palms.
The technology in question would allow the devices to accurately detect the veins inside our palms, which are uniquely structured just like our fingerprints. Palm identification itself is not new and has been used in some areas for years because it is safer than most other methods. Fingerprints can be replicated relatively easily and even faces can be successfully duplicated with sufficient resources. However, pretending the veins in a person’s hand is almost impossible.
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The development of Apple could allow the implementation of this technology on small mobile devices like Apple Watch
To do this, the devices will use not only the light emitted from the screen. But also the infrared light that comes from the bottom. Both images will be processed and combined with the original data. The system requires a spot projector and an infrared camera, so the problem of having to put them under the screen still persists.
This method has no contact, so you don’t need to press your palm against the screen. Just holding your hand slightly above the screen should suffice.
If the technology works as expected. It will be safe enough to replace FaceID for everything from unlocking devices to approving financial transactions. However, when it comes to usability, it can be a little less intuitive than FaceID. You may need to use the palm only for extra safety features and services.
When, or even if the palm recognition reaches Apple devices. It is impossible to say right now, many patented technologies never reach marketable products. We will be alert to any mention of “palm” in future losses relating to Apple.
(Via: AppleInsider)
