Apple Exploring Alternatives to Traditional Passwords with Photo Identification as Authentication

[MacRumors]

With Apple's interest in a smart watch gaining renewed attention, there has been a considerable amount of speculation about what the company might try to do with such a device. Some of the speculation has pointed out that a watch could provide a good alternative to traditional passcodes by using watch proximity to grant a user access to systems and apps.

Apple is apparently looking at other alternatives for traditional password security as well, as highlighted in a patent application published late last week and spotted by Patently Apple.

The patent application describes a system that would display one or more photos stored on a device and ask the owner to identify them. The document mentions voice entry as one method of identification, using the example of a photo from the owner's Contacts database.

For example, after displaying an image that depicts a face of the user's sister Jane, the user may speak aloud, "Jane" ... Alternatively, step 120 might also include displaying ... a set of names. Then, as part of step 130, the user selects one of the displayed names that the user believes identifies the object.

The patent application suggests that the user would be able to choose the number of photos required to access the device, in the same way they already choose between simple and complex passcodes on an iPhone or iPad.

Apple previously filed for a patent on an approach similar to Android's Face Unlock feature, where the phone unlocks when it recognizes the face of the owner through the front-facing camera, though it was discovered soon after it debuted that the system could be easily fooled by using a photo of the owner displayed on another handset. Additional innovations such as a "Liveness Check" requiring that the user blink for Face Unlock to function have, however, been developed to increase security.

Article Link: Apple Exploring Alternatives to Traditional Passwords with Photo Identification as Authentication

[underkuerbis]

Geez, I'm not good with names...
I don't approve

[Rudy69]

Get in an accident, get disfigured....can't use your phone

[Mr. Retrofire]

Originally Posted by Rudy69

Get in an accident, get disfigured....can't use your phone

In that case, you have probably more important problems.

[Renzatic]

Originally Posted by Mr. Retrofire

In that case, you have probably more important problems.

All I WANT TO DO IS GET IN MY ICLOUD ACCOUNT, APPLE! I AM NOT AN ANIMAL! I AM A HUMAN BEING! I AM A MAN!

...wow. I'm all about quoting the classics today.

[gorskiegangsta]

Originally Posted by Rudy69

Get in an accident, get disfigured....can't use your phone

Get in an accident, lose your fingers... can't type in your password

..that can happen too.

Originally Posted by theanimaster

It isn't innovation -- I've seen it used before.

This is the same argument people bring against AirPlay. Bla, bla, it isn't innovative - DLNA existed way before it... not willing to acknowledge that no regular consumer knew of it or how to use it. Finding a way of making technology, or some aspect of technology, easy to use and/or easily accessible to mass market is innovation in and of itself.

[Mattjeff]

Originally Posted by gorskiegangsta

Get in an accident, lose your fingers... can't type in your password

..that can happen

I have typed my password in with my chin/knuckle many times when it is cold you get creative.

[mw360]

Originally Posted by Rudy69

Get in an accident, get disfigured....can't use your phone

Hands up who actually read and comprehended the article...

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by underkuerbis

Geez, I'm not good with names...

I don't approve!

Well i doubt this would be the only option.

I have no real issue with Apple providing a variety of schemes we can use, singularly or in a stack of our choice.

[bradgfromboo]

Keep copying those android features apple you got this!

[The Phazer]

I really can't think of any scenario in which this would work.

I wouldn't want my photos displayed without my passcode being entered. That's one of the things it's there to prevent.

[Unggoy Murderer]

The Android Face Unlock feature is pathetic. I could use my friends Facebook profile picture to unlock it.

I still can't see Apple's system being fool proof. I mean, what if you know a lot about that particular person, like you're a family member or something. At this time, there isn't any better options than the passcode unlock, or Android's "join the dots" thing. (However, you can look for pattern smudges, tap marks on the screen)

[aloharaz]

Remember this? "My voice is my password"

[appletoandroid]

Here comes Apple, late to the party as usual. But they'll still call it innovative b/c it's Apple.

[DJAKO]

Originally Posted by appletoandroid

Here comes Apple, late to the party as usual. But they'll still call it innovative b/c it's Apple.

They will just do it better, per usual.

[jm001]

Originally Posted by appletoandroid

Here comes Apple, late to the party as usual. But they'll still call it innovative b/c it's Apple.

Wait a minute you mean Android has that feature of using a smart watch to unlock a smart phone? Prove it.

Or the use of photos and matching information to unlock the phone? Prove it. I haven't heard of this stuff with Android. This IS innovation. Read the whole article instead of the title before commenting. Now go back to your corner and continue connecting dots.

[macs4nw]

Originally Posted by appletoandroid

Here comes Apple, late to the party as usual. But they'll still call it innovative b/c it's Apple.

Not because it's APPLE, but because they'll probably just implement it much better, taking their time to do it 'right'.

[ChristianJapan]

Originally Posted by aloharaz

Remember this? "My voice is my password"

... As long you don't have a heavy cold and can't speak clearly ... Or in a noisy environment ... Or a very silent one ...

Don't think voice is a good option; for login.

Images and gestures are more flexible.

[DJAKO]

Originally Posted by ChristianJapan

... As long you don't have a heavy cold and can't speak clearly ... Or in a noisy environment ... Or a very silent one ...

Don't think voice is a good option; for login.

Images and gestures are more flexible.

How would a very silent environment be bad in your example?

[coolspot18]

Originally Posted by ChristianJapan

... As long you don't have a heavy cold and can't speak clearly ... Or in a noisy environment ... Or a very silent one ...

A cold does not affect voice biometrics; voice verification would still work.

[nostaws]

Originally Posted by aloharaz

Remember this? "My voice is my password"

Actually, I am pretty sure that it was "My voice is my passport. Verify me."

That was the problem in the movie. How do you get someone to casually say "passport."

[aloharaz]

Originally Posted by nostaws

Actually, I am pretty sure that it was "My voice is my passport. Verify me."

That was the problem in the movie. How do you get someone to casually say "passport."

"my voice is my password" it was a feature in Mac OS 9. You could log in to your account by saying that phrase into the microphone.

you are talking about a movie.

[Matthew Yohe]

Originally Posted by bradgfromboo

Keep copying those android features apple you got this!

Which feature is this copying?

[pubwvj]

This idea is very prone to error. I would simply rather remember my passwords.

[Verbatim Cookie]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

FTFY