Future versions of mobile OS Apple may be implemented function, apparent at first glance quite interesting - control access to gadgets using facial recognition technology.
Patent and Trademark United States on Tuesday published Apple patent on biometric technology lock portable device with the camera. With this function, which can be implemented in iOS 9, the mobile device may automatically limit access to the tablet or smartphone, depending on who is facing the camera of the gadget.
According to the description of the system, it allows you to identify a person's face, for example, to limit access to iPhone, iPad and MacBook or activate individual profile. Furthermore, gadgets that can detect the presence of human and depending on whether there is anybody close or not to enable or disable the display.
The principle of operation is built on a comparison of the previously obtained image stored in memory, with the image coming from the camera. Recognition function analyzes the degree of similarity of the most characteristic facial features such as the shape of the eyes and mouth contours. The result of the comparison is used to select a user profile and provide or restrict access to the device.
It is known that Apple filed a patent on the technology before Google did with Face Unlock. Nevertheless, the system Face Unlock on the search giant is based on the development of the company PittPatt, patented in 2007.
Despite the fact that the functional technology from Apple and Google a close, the system performance is still different. In addition, the patent applies only to the first iOS-device, while Google has patented feature for any gadget equipped with a camera, including personal computers, smartphones, tablets, laptops and other devices.
It is unknown how soon patent-pending technology will be added to the iPhone and iPad, and how it will work well in comparison with a similar design Google.