On the Horizon: iPads and iPhones That Personalize Via Facial Recognition

Apple wants to build a world in which the iPad and iPhone are for the whole family. Literally.

The company applied for a patent last week that would enable its devices to recognize a user through its camera and then personalize its desktop, applications, contacts, favorites and more. Personalization facial recognition software isn't just a simple security device. This type of "visual log-on" would enable multiple people to share a single device, while still enjoying a personalized user experience.

The patent filing describes a "low-computation solution for reasonably effective (low threshold) face recognition that can be implemented on camera-equipped consumer portable appliances." That means that the facial recognition software will focus on each user's "high information portions," including eyes, mouth and nose. Since the software won't require a lot of time or battery power to identify these easily distinguishable features, battery life should be a non-issue.

So all you'd have to do is pick up your iPad and look into the camera. Even if another user was just logged in, the new software should automatically call up your settings. Maybe this feature won't be popular for iPhones, but I see a lot of people getting into this for the iPad. After all, who wants someone else's apps cluttering up their device?

Comments

[Telematrix]

It’s a very cool blog!

Telematrix