Apple seeks patent for unlocking devices by identifying contact photos
The brains in Cupertino have come up with a way to unlock your iPhone and other devices that's definitely a lot more novel than entering a passcode. In a patent application uncovered by Patently Apple, the company details a way to authenticate your identity by speaking the names of Address Book contacts as their photos are displayed on-screen.
The application also mentions some variations of the process, such as displaying more than one photo in sequence for added security, or allowing you to tap on the correct name from a list of several choices in case you can't or don't want to speak out loud.
This isn't the first novel concept for user authentication that Apple is looking into, based on patents it has filed. The company is also apparently investigating the use of built-in fingerprint scanners on future iOS devices, along with facial recognition using the integrated cameras found on iPhones, iPads and Macs.
[Via AppleInsider]
