Apple patents biometric device for use in iPhones and computers
27 March, 2009
category: Biometrics, Corporate, Digital ID
Apple has received a patent for a biometric device it expects to be embedded in future lines of iPhones and Macintosh computers. The patent explains some of the concepts and procedures Apple is hoping to utilize in their future products for improving security including some that aren’t biometric.
Among the ideas presented are creating a biometric sensor embedded into devices such as the iPhone where simply touching the touch screen would authenticate via fingerprint. Other concept in the patent refer to using pieces of hardware already included with devices to operate as authenticators in addition to their normal uses. For instance, a camera on an iPhone or Web cam on a notebook could scan for iris patterns or facial recognition or a trackpad could scan fingerprint or vein patterns.
Other ideas brought up include using onboard mics for voice recognition, collecting DNA samples, or detecting shapes of the ear. Additionally, there are some authentication procedures not involving biometrics that are covered in the patent. Among these are having touch sensitive devices respond to patterns of tapping and matching onscreen icons.
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