Apple exploring face detection to unlock, customize & interact with iOS devices
Apple has shown continued interest in using the forward facing camera on devices like the iPhone to unlock the display and customize its layout based on detecting the identity of the person using it.
Evidence of Apple's interest in having devices identify users with facial recognition technology has repeatedly cropped up. In early 2010, before the iPad was announced, The Wall Street Journal revealed that an early prototype of Apple's touchscreen tablet would use a forward-facing camera to recognize users' faces, allowing it to be one device easily shared by the entire family.
This week, AppleInsider found another example of Apple's desire to have iOS devices recognize users in a new patent application entitled "Electronic Device Operation Adjustment Based on Face Detection." It describes using a forward facing camera on a device to recognize individual users and also track the orientation of their face with respect to the device.
The application describes a system that could scan and detect a specific user's face, and then unlock the device after the person has been recognized. If the user cannot be identified by the system, they would then be presented with the option of entering a security code to unlock the iPhone or iPad.
But Apple's application goes well beyond simply unlocking the device. By recognizing a specific user, the system could customize its layout or other settings based on the pre-set preferences of that authorized user.
"If the detected human face is recognized... an operation of the (device) can be modified based upon the recognized human face," the application reads. "The modification can include executing a pre-defined set of operations such as opening email, opening text messages, and so forth."
A similar concept was detailed in another patent application discovered by AppleInsider in December of 2011. That filing described iPhones and iPads that could automatically customize applications, settings and features to a user's personal preferences once they pick up the device.
The latest application revealed this week also presents a new potential use for the forward facing camera on iOS devices, describing a system that would automatically adjust the images on screen based on the orientation of a user's face.
"The facial data can be used to determine an orientation of the human face relative to the orientation of the presented visual content," the filing reads. "In other words, the electronic device can determine if the orientation of the presented visual content, is substantially the same, or different, than the orientation of the human face."
In this way, the content on the screen could readjust itself so that the user can more clearly see it at the proper angle, without any distortion.
Facial recognition technology could also be used to automatically lock a device and put it into sleep mode. If a human face is not detected by the system over a set period of time, the system would presume that it is not in use, and it would automatically lock the screen.
The application, made public this week, was first filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in September of 2010. It is credited to John E. Arthur.
[ View article on AppleInsider ]
Comments
http://www.unwiredview.com/2012/04/0...r-face-unlock/
Just sayin'...
And it would automatically unlock when you press the button and it detects the right fingerprint, if the fingerprint is wrong it prompts you with a password.
I think it would be way better if they put some sort of fingerprint scanner on the home button.
And it would automatically unlock when you press the button and it detects the right fingerprint, if the fingerprint is wrong it prompts you with a password.
I was just going to say that it's a good thing Apple is looking to apply this type of technology in their products. By the looks of the poor kid's hands in the illustration it's apparent he would have difficulty using the "slide to unlock" feature of iOS devices so I think fingerprint detection technology would be completely out of the question.
And in other news, HTC Granted patent on facial regonition to unlock
http://www.unwiredview.com/2012/04/0...r-face-unlock/
That patent is going to be invalidated as soon as someone challenges it. The technology has been known for many years. For example, I bought an HP laptop with fingerprint scanner almost a decade ago which would fall under the claims of HTC's patent.
I was just going to say that it's a good thing Apple is looking to apply this type of technology in their products. By the looks of the poor kid's hands in the illustration it's apparent he would have difficulty using the "slide to unlock" feature of iOS devices so I think fingerprint detection technology would be completely out of the question.
That kid's hand is seemingly designed to facilitate easy reseting of his Netgear Router or ejecting a floppy from his Mac Plus!
Notification center, facial recognition. What else is Apple looking to steal from Android? Maybe it's time to go thermonuclear on them?
I know, I was thinking the same thing. it what happens when the competition is at 51% in your home country.
I didn't know there were Doc Martens golf spikes.
They look more like Lugz, the kid has a serious case of whiplash.
I hope it works better than the Android phones, where you can use a picture of the person to unlock the phone.
Yeah that seems like the obvious "hack" to bypass security.
A Z-depth cam like the Kinect would be able to easily distinguish between a flat surface picture and a three dimentional head though. Or maybe you have to turn your head from side to side to log in.
The auto rotation of content... I don't know.. It'll draw an awful lot of power if the camera is on all the time, analyzing the image. Plus, it'll feel weird.
I hope it works better than the Android phones, where you can use a picture of the person to unlock the phone.
Samsung is going to require that you blink to unlock the phone.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/29/29...on-face-unlock
Of course, they must have stolen the idea from Apple. /s
I hope it works better than the Android phones, where you can use a picture of the person to unlock the phone.
If someone randomly takes or finds your phone (maybe you leave it in a bar) the odds are they won't have a picture of you.
It's not particularly strong protection but it is beter than the no security which is what many people use.
Apple has shown continued interest in using the forward facing camera on devices like the iPhone to unlock the display and customize its layout based on detecting the identity of the person using it.
Evidence of Apple's interest in having devices identify users with facial recognition technology has repeatedly cropped up. In early 2010, before the iPad was announced, The Wall Street Journal revealed that an early prototype of Apple's touchscreen tablet would use a forward-facing camera to recognize users' faces, allowing it to be one device easily shared by the entire family.
These guesses make little sense. The iPhone is a personal device - it is not shared, and there is little reason to think that multiple users would need a "custom layout".
With the iPad, keeping it personal likely results in multiple sales for families, with members having their own device, rather than sharing a common device.
I can see this tech being used on desktop machines, but not on iOS devices.
That kid's hand is seemingly designed to facilitate easy reseting of his Netgear Router or ejecting a floppy from his Mac Plus!
I love the graphic. Typical Apple fan, captured in just a few simple lines.
So none of you fanboys are going to point out the fact that Ice Cream Sandwich already has this feature? I guess if Apple rips it off from somebody else, it's okay.
Apple has always been shameless about stealing great ideas. Why is this anything new?