Is Apple prepping biometric security for the iPhone?

Damian Koh | Mar 31, 2009

(Credit: AppleInsider)

AppleInsider has uncovered a patent that hints at future biometric security for the iPhone.

The literature discussed the possibility of embedding a sensor behind the display to scan the user's fingerprint when he touches the device, or a built-in camera capable of retinal and facial recognition. There's also talk about the plausibility of identifying the user's voice and shape of the ear before letting a call through. While most of these ideas seem to be targeted at the mobile device, similar ideas could also be implemented in notebooks that have a trackpad, Webcam or palm rest.

A little less sci-fi was the mention of ditching conventional alphanumeric passcodes for an interface that requires users to tap out predefined sequences on the panel or to match shapes and colors using icons. This is similar to the Android-based HTC Dream where the user has to connect a grid of dots before unlocking the phone.

(Credit: AppleInsider)

With the iPhone 3.0 OS already out and an imminent launch of the next-gen iPhone in June, our hopes are pretty high on this patent taking shape.

Via AppleInsider

Filed under: Mobile Phones, Notebooks
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