Biometrics: Apple Patenting a Face Recognition Solution
- End-December, Apple has applied to patent a face recognition solution for its mobile devices. This solution may invalidate the need for passwords and help customise their iPads and iPhones.
- It is mostly designed to allow several people to use a single tablet or mobile phone and still have access, through biometric authentication, to fully customised interfaces.
- The technology relies on image comparison and the user’s picture is each time contrasted with the template picture taken upon authentication, without him needing to dial any keys.
- Several features may then be proposed, including the creation of distinct sessions per users.
- This patent application might allow Apple to stand out and widen its range of professional offers. The iPad, most of all, could be used in branches and points of sales, for both CRM and payments: distinct, easily accessible, sessions (with specifically set rights) may then be of use.
- A study conducted by NPD Group has shown that 76% of the US companies counting less than 1,000 employees are planning to purchase tablets before the end 2012. The iPad remains the preferred choice, notably with larger companies displaying higher equipment rates (9 companies out of 10 with 500 to 1,000 employees should be equipped by end 2012).