Apple is seeking new patents for technologies that may use advanced biometrics to protect i-devices (iphone and ipad for now). Biometrics to protect laptops and phones isn’t brand new: many models use fingerprint and voice print security, and some even venture into facial or iris scanning and recognition . Apple’s future system will go steps further than that by combining several 'soft' biometrics. Essentially, if implemented on a device, the technology could use stored information about not only the authorized user’s voice print, face and fingerprints, but also usage patterns (using keystroke modalities for example) and even heartbeat. Should the system suspect that the user is not the phone’s owner, in the case of theft, the device could lock out the thief and send an e-mail with the phone’s location and the thief’s photo to the authorized user. It could also inform the owner (and credit card companies and banks) of all activity conducted on the phone by the thief via call logs and keystroke information. Finally, to prevent the thief from using any information stored on the device for nefarious purposes, the system could save data on the phone to a remote location and then wipe the device clean, rendering it secure from data theft.
http://www.tmcnet.com/biomag/articles/96251-apple-filing-james-bond-style-biometricsecurity- applications.htm
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Apple patent purchase points to possible biometric functionality
A new patent purchased by technology company Apple from three engineers in Oregon may point to a possibility of biometric capabilities in future devices from the company, according to a Macgasm article. The patent deals with utilizing fingerprint sensors embedded into flat-panel displays for authenticating identity. Such technology could lead to sensors being placed underneath the touch-screens that have become staples of Apples most prevalent devices.
There is a documented need to make collection devices simpler and less expensive while being lightweight and field ready. Many federal defense and law enforcement agencies have similar documented portable collection device requirements with slightly nuanced differences for various operational environments. Additionally, the high training costs for current field equipment, as documented by US Customs and Border Protection, represent a significant hurdle for fielding devices effectively. It would be preferable if a ubiquitous device, already familiar to government agents, was leveraged to cut down on equipment and training costs.
Of course this leads to leveraging the iPhone as a collection device for fingerprints, through its flat screen, as well as face and iris, through the camera. In 2009, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published guidance and operational requirements for Mobile ID devices that can be used for enrollment, identification and verification functions. NIST also developed a prototype software interface application for the iPhone demonstrating how biometric services could be achieved.
With luck having Apple becoming involved with biometric collection will lead to a host of intuitive and easy to use equipment being fielded.
For more information please follow the link:http://www.thirdfactor.com/2010/08/12/apple-patent-purchase-points-to-possible-biometricfunctionality
There is a documented need to make collection devices simpler and less expensive while being lightweight and field ready. Many federal defense and law enforcement agencies have similar documented portable collection device requirements with slightly nuanced differences for various operational environments. Additionally, the high training costs for current field equipment, as documented by US Customs and Border Protection, represent a significant hurdle for fielding devices effectively. It would be preferable if a ubiquitous device, already familiar to government agents, was leveraged to cut down on equipment and training costs.
Of course this leads to leveraging the iPhone as a collection device for fingerprints, through its flat screen, as well as face and iris, through the camera. In 2009, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published guidance and operational requirements for Mobile ID devices that can be used for enrollment, identification and verification functions. NIST also developed a prototype software interface application for the iPhone demonstrating how biometric services could be achieved.
With luck having Apple becoming involved with biometric collection will lead to a host of intuitive and easy to use equipment being fielded.
For more information please follow the link:http://www.thirdfactor.com/2010/08/12/apple-patent-purchase-points-to-possible-biometricfunctionality
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