I hope this rumour is true. I don’t trust Face ID because it bombards my retinas with infrared laser dots (which can’t be healthy). I much prefer the good old fashioned home button on my iPhone 8. It feels good to touch, is super quick and helps me orientate my phone - even in the dark or when it’s in my pocket.
Also, edge to edge screens are just another gimmick - like those frameless reading glasses in the early 90’s. A well designed frame can accentuate the content of a screen, like it does on the iPhone 8 (without silly notches and curved corners). Indeed the iPhone 8 has a perfectly adequate screen size at 4.7 inches and it’s overall proportions are great.
It is stunning that all the Apple cheerleaders, (and I have been one myself since 1985) have not had the wherewithal or insight to question the massive social experiment of FaceID bombarding millions of users retinas with laser flashes, albeit low power. There are very few studies of the effect low power lasers on human eyes. The studies that exist were undertaken by laser manufactures blinding animals to determine what level of laser wattage is "safe".
There are very few technical experts that understand both lasers and physiology of the human eye. And laser damage to the eye is not "all or nothing", nor restricted to the retina. Lower level damage to the eye may have long term consequences as persons age, and any damage is likely cumulative.
It is stunning that over and over again, (think DDT, leaded gasoline, asbestos, PCBs, benzenes, BPA, phthalates, etc etc) private interests rush ahead and incorporate potentially harmful new technologies, with little or no precautions. Only years and decades later do gov'ts finally catch up and get around to regulating harmful technologies and substances.
I am very disappointed in Apple's cavalier attitude to the potential harm of FaceID, especially given its stated aim of helping individuals monitor and improve their health. Now Apple apparently plans to INCREASE the power of FaceID lasers to get better "results". Same logic as manufacturers of laser scanners wishing to ensure that barcodes are registered on every scan. Little thought is given to potential harm to human eyes.
Cavalier attitudes to possible health effects, particularly regarding something as precious as vision, borders on criminal negligence. You'd think Apple would care about peoples' vision, given the products they sell.
I agree completely that Touch ID should be brought back, as a supplement or alternative to FaceID. Apple might consider the potential for future multibillion dollar class actions, that could result from possible long term harm to people's vision.
It is stunning that all the Apple cheerleaders, (and I have been one myself since 1985) have not had the wherewithal or insight to question the massive social experiment of FaceID bombarding millions of users retinas with laser flashes, albeit low power.
It is stunning that all the Apple cheerleaders, (and I have been one myself since 1985) have not had the wherewithal or insight to question the massive social experiment of FaceID bombarding millions of users retinas with laser flashes, albeit low power.
iPhones do not use lasers.
Yes, they do. The iPhone FaceID system uses a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, known as VCSEL to project infrared dots onto your face.
This does not cause problems for the facial skin because the thermal effect is so mild but it may prove harmful for the eyes given the sensitivity of the retina and cornea. Also, the lens of our eye magnifies and concentrates the light entering it. Normally we control light by squinting, blinking, closing our eyes or wearing sunglasses. But FaceID requires that you look directly at the infrared beam - not just a few times, but thousands of times a year.
Furthermore, there appear to to be no long term studies on the impact of beaming a VCSEL into people’s eyes. It’s not good enough to say this technology complies with ‘current’ health standards because these standards often prove to be inadequate (as Saniat explained above).
In the absence of definitive proof of the safety of FaceID I’m erring on the side of caution and sticking with Touch ID on my iPhone 8. I certainly won’t be upgrading to any newer iPhone that doesn’t offer Touch ID. It’s not worth the risk.
It is stunning that all the Apple cheerleaders, (and I have been one myself since 1985) have not had the wherewithal or insight to question the massive social experiment of FaceID bombarding millions of users retinas with laser flashes, albeit low power.
iPhones do not use lasers.
Yes, they do. The iPhone FaceID system uses a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, known as VCSEL to project infrared dots onto your face.
This does not cause problems for the facial skin because the thermal effect is so mild but it may prove harmful for the eyes given the sensitivity of the retina and cornea. Also, the lens of our eye magnifies and concentrates the light entering it. Normally we control light by squinting, blinking, closing our eyes or wearing sunglasses. But FaceID requires that you look directly at the infrared beam - not just a few times, but thousands of times a year.
Furthermore, there appear to to be no long term studies on the impact of beaming a VCSEL into people’s eyes. It’s not good enough to say this technology complies with ‘current’ health standards because these standards often prove to be inadequate (as Saniat explained above).
In the absence of definitive proof of the safety of FaceID I’m erring on the side of caution and sticking with Touch ID on my iPhone 8. I certainly won’t be upgrading to any newer iPhone that doesn’t offer Touch ID. It’s not worth the risk.
It is stunning that all the Apple cheerleaders, (and I have been one myself since 1985) have not had the wherewithal or insight to question the massive social experiment of FaceID bombarding millions of users retinas with laser flashes, albeit low power. There are very few studies of the effect low power lasers on human eyes. The studies that exist were undertaken by laser manufactures blinding animals to determine what level of laser wattage is "safe".
There are very few technical experts that understand both lasers and physiology of the human eye. And laser damage to the eye is not "all or nothing", nor restricted to the retina. Lower level damage to the eye may have long term consequences as persons age, and any damage is likely cumulative.
It is stunning that over and over again, (think DDT, leaded gasoline, asbestos, PCBs, benzenes, BPA, phthalates, etc etc) private interests rush ahead and incorporate potentially harmful new technologies, with little or no precautions. Only years and decades later do gov'ts finally catch up and get around to regulating harmful technologies and substances.
I am very disappointed in Apple's cavalier attitude to the potential harm of FaceID, especially given its stated aim of helping individuals monitor and improve their health. Now Apple apparently plans to INCREASE the power of FaceID lasers to get better "results". Same logic as manufacturers of laser scanners wishing to ensure that barcodes are registered on every scan. Little thought is given to potential harm to human eyes.
Cavalier attitudes to possible health effects, particularly regarding something as precious as vision, borders on criminal negligence. You'd think Apple would care about peoples' vision, given the products they sell.
I agree completely that Touch ID should be brought back, as a supplement or alternative to FaceID. Apple might consider the potential for future multibillion dollar class actions, that could result from possible long term harm to people's vision.
Are either of you basing this on anything other than rampant speculation? Is there evidence that VCSELs in this power/usage range is actually potentially harmful? If so, then please back up your claims. Many things in our lives are potentially harmless, but just because it *may* be harmful, there's little reason to assume that it is until you have data to suggest that's true.
Comments
It is stunning that all the Apple cheerleaders, (and I have been one myself since 1985) have not had the wherewithal or insight to question the massive social experiment of FaceID bombarding millions of users retinas with laser flashes, albeit low power. There are very few studies of the effect low power lasers on human eyes. The studies that exist were undertaken by laser manufactures blinding animals to determine what level of laser wattage is "safe".
There are very few technical experts that understand both lasers and physiology of the human eye. And laser damage to the eye is not "all or nothing", nor restricted to the retina. Lower level damage to the eye may have long term consequences as persons age, and any damage is likely cumulative.
It is stunning that over and over again, (think DDT, leaded gasoline, asbestos, PCBs, benzenes, BPA, phthalates, etc etc) private interests rush ahead and incorporate potentially harmful new technologies, with little or no precautions. Only years and decades later do gov'ts finally catch up and get around to regulating harmful technologies and substances.
I am very disappointed in Apple's cavalier attitude to the potential harm of FaceID, especially given its stated aim of helping individuals monitor and improve their health. Now Apple apparently plans to INCREASE the power of FaceID lasers to get better "results". Same logic as manufacturers of laser scanners wishing to ensure that barcodes are registered on every scan. Little thought is given to potential harm to human eyes.
Cavalier attitudes to possible health effects, particularly regarding something as precious as vision, borders on criminal negligence. You'd think Apple would care about peoples' vision, given the products they sell.
I agree completely that Touch ID should be brought back, as a supplement or alternative to FaceID. Apple might consider the potential for future multibillion dollar class actions, that could result from possible long term harm to people's vision.
This does not cause problems for the facial skin because the thermal effect is so mild but it may prove harmful for the eyes given the sensitivity of the retina and cornea. Also, the lens of our eye magnifies and concentrates the light entering it. Normally we control light by squinting, blinking, closing our eyes or wearing sunglasses. But FaceID requires that you look directly at the infrared beam - not just a few times, but thousands of times a year.
Furthermore, there appear to to be no long term studies on the impact of beaming a VCSEL into people’s eyes. It’s not good enough to say this technology complies with ‘current’ health standards because these standards often prove to be inadequate (as Saniat explained above).
In the absence of definitive proof of the safety of FaceID I’m erring on the side of caution and sticking with Touch ID on my iPhone 8. I certainly won’t be upgrading to any newer iPhone that doesn’t offer Touch ID. It’s not worth the risk.