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Back when the iPad was still just a rumor, the
Wall Street Journal reported that one of the features that Apple had been working on with their upcoming tablet was the ability to recognize users by face.The effort was part of Apple's efforts to make their new tablet a multi-user device. Facial recognition, however, never made it into the iPad, but a newly published patent application gives us insight into this feature that didn't make it into the shipping product.
AppleInsider notes that the new patent application offers a way for multiple users to share a device:The face detection system reportedly could be a low-power system that is always active, allowing face detection to be the primary method to unlock your iOS device. Apple's patent was filed in June, 2010, soon after the first iPad was introduced.
Face recognition as a security measure, however, has some possible flaws. Google's Android recently introduced a Face Unlock feature as well, but
reports have suggested it can be fooled by a photograph of the user.
Article Link:
Apple's Multi-User Face Recognition Plans for iPad Revealed in Patent