The forehead works best with camera-based (CCD) bionmetric devices. Adding a little oil to the fingerprint makes the pattern show up better. Where I work, the first thing we tell people at an entry gate (when their bio doesn't work), is to rub their finger on their face/forehead.
Good idea for optical scanners.
Now, the type of sensor used for Touch Id is an RF capacitive type, which sends a signal from the metal ring through your finger to the hundreds of tiny antennas in a grid in the middle circle. (So people should make sure part of their finger is touching that outer ring.)
This type of reader is sensing the ridges underneath the surface layer, which means it should be better with contamination and dry skin than other sensors, but it'll still have limits.
Wet fingers are more of a problem.
This is true. The reason is because most RF sensors are only expecting the
capacitive signal sent
through the finger and out the ridges and valleys of the fingerrprint.
When the finger is wet, an additional
conductive signal takes a shortcut across the finger's
surface and thus interferes with the readings.
(Some RF sensors watch for the two different signal phases and can remove the conductive part of the signal. Apparently not in this case, though.)
Perhaps have two programs for the same finger, one taken in the winter when it's more dry and keep the other program?
Good idea. I suggest simulating that, by entering the same finger multiple times of the day under varying environmental conditions.
Smart Idea. Although I wonder if Apple tested the touch ID under all conditions. since some countries are always cold or hot Most likely they did
It's the result of a device designed in California weather
Reminds me of how automobiles designed in England have great heat for the cold of England, but their A/C is usually terrible.
Likewise, any kind of capacitive sensor... touchscreen or fingerprint... makes sense in a warm and steady climate, but can be a pain to use in cold regions.