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Apple patent application hints at “stealth” iPhone biometric security

By: , IntoMobile
Friday, March 27th, 2009 at 4:53 PM

Keep it simple. That’s Apple’s guiding design philosophy in everything they do, the iPhone included. In its latest bid to keep the iPhone simple, Apple has filed a patent application for a technology that would stealthily hide biometric security sensors in gadgets like the iPhone. Rather than forcing security-conscious iPhone users to authenticate themselves through time consuming biometric checks, Apple is apparently looking to build biometric security features into common iPhone tasks – like unlocking the iPhone’s homescreen.

iphone-biometric-patent

The patent describes methods by which an iPhone or Mac computer could authenticate the user’s identity through biometric checks such as fingerprints, finger vein pattern, retinal scans, voice recognition, DNA analysis or even the shape of a person’s ear as it presses up against the iPhone’s display. Biometric data would be gathered through sensors hidden behind the iPhone display, hidden under a laptop trackpad or built into a webcam, allowing behind-the-scenes biometric analysis.

If the patent becomes reality, we may see a future iPhone equipped with some sort of hidden biometrics. Imagine your iPhone automatically scanning your finger vein pattern as you swipe your iPhone’s display. The idea is simple and subtle, but has the potential to quietly revolutionize the way we protect our gadgets and the sensitive personal information within.

[Via: AppleInsider]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

  • Scott

    That is amazing!

  • ACS chennai

    This is nice thought… They used very well Biometric system…

    Roshid