Yess! You heard right! California-based Apple, is reportedly exploring a new method for unlocking its devices, leveraging users’ unique heartbeats, in a groundbreaking development.
How Did This Happen?
A recent media report noted that the tech giant has filed and been granted a patent for a technology that could allow users to unlock their iPhones simply by holding them, utilizing their cardiovascular signatures.
There is no doubt that this technology would be awfully hard to beat.
Besides this the new Apple patent could lead to an eventual iOS update allowing users to rely on their heartbeat to unlock an iPhone.
Although, this is not the first time as this technology already exists within the Apple Watch, which monitors heart rhythm through an electrocardiogram (ECG) app.
Further, the outlet noted, heart patterns are already being used to open devices in some cases.
So, now it would become pretty handy as instead of typing in a Mac password, an Apple Watch user can take a quick and easy ECG to open up their laptop.
Not only that, they will also receive authentication to open other devices, too.
For the smooth process, the watch needs to be fully fastened to the top and bottom of a person’s wrist.
By simply opening up the ECG app , the user’s job will get done.
Please note here that this new patent is for an iPhone that can read a person’s heart rate, this is basically from the user normally handling the phone.
Not Only Authentication, But Much More
Imagine, for this the iPhone’s exterior would turn into a heart rate reader.
In addition to this, the patent gets into how an ECG could be used to determine the “mood” of a user, according to the outlet.
This could be done in one way by examining a person’s heart rate to suggest a song of equal beats per minute.
Moving ahead, this technology could be used to speed up or slow down music as the user works out.
Basically, this patent outlines a method where devices like the Apple Watch could use its ECG (electrocardiogram) feature to identify and authenticate users.
This simply means that instead of relying solely on Face ID or a passcode, now the user’s heart’s unique patterns can be used to gain access to their devices.
Presently, users need to unlock their Apple Watch with a passcode before it can be used to unlock a Mac.
It is noteworthy here that the continuous authentication would remain active as long as the watch is worn.
This would also streamline the user’s experience across multiple devices.
The patent from Apple also hints at a new iPhone design which will be equipped with heart-measuring sensors.
Interestingly, these sensors would do much more by not only allowing users to unlock their phones by casually holding them but also potentially gauge the user’s mood through their heart rate.
When it comes to the implementation, this technology is still in the patent stage.
So, it is uncertain whether Apple has begun testing it.
But, we can not deny the possibility that such a feature coming to market could represent a significant shift in biometric authentication.
In case Apple decides to move forward with this innovative approach, it would take a few years before it becomes available to consumers.
