Why FaceID is OBJECTIVELY a regressive technology

[Oridus]

Not trying to make a drawn out post.

Think of TouchID as if there was nothing to touch. Pretend like TouchID simply knows you when you pick up the phone.

That's it. You simply pick up the phone. This is a one step process.

Now FaceID. You have to pick up your phone, look at your phone, and swipe up. Three steps.

The reason why I ask you to forget that you are actually touching the TouchID button is because after a while of using the phone, the physical interaction of touching the button is integrated into the process of simply picking the phone up.

This is an analysis of physical interaction between the two technologies. One requires you to simply hold your phone while the other is a three step process which includes picking it up, physically placing it in front of your face, and then using your hand to gesture for unlock.

If we use the principle that any technology can improve by simplifying it's process, we can see that TouchID is actually the superior technology.

Strictly objective.

Subjectivity sometimes is influenced by naiveté in the particular subject being discussed. Not meant as an insult, but I believe this argument is premature, since the vast majority of us have no experience in how this actually feels.

Adding a particular physical interaction to replace another (or lack thereof) doesn't always mean we're regressing. We've gone kind of back and forth in our options to unlock the phone. First it was slide to unlock, then we had touch ID and with that came the option later on to "rest finger to open". In any of those manners though, we're moving our finger in some fashion to still induce the action of opening the phone. We had to be cognizant of where our thumb was placed to complete this action, therefor still performing a physical function that eventually came naturally inherent to our daily interaction with the device. Muscle memory. We no longer are burdened by the thought of this action as we use it on a daily basis. The same will happen with FaceID.

I personally believe that FaceID is 2 steps, as well. Not three as you mentioned. If you're pulling your phone out of your pocket, there's a very very good chance that you're going to be looking at the device to interaction with it anyway. There's very little in the way of situations that I can think of that you would pull your phone out of your pocket, unlock it, and not be looking at the phone for some piece of information. So two steps are involved. Pick up your phone, swipe up. I say that because while you're looking at the phone between picking it up and swiping, it's already going through the motions of the unlock. Heck, one could argue that this is really just one step, with the swipe up, because there's no arguing that in any case of interacting with your phone in the condition to where an unlock needs to happen (Via FaceID, TouchID, Passcode, or simple access to the home-screen with no lock code), you'll be picking up your phone anyway.

We simply, in my opinion, will become used to it, just as we have with TouchID, and it will become a very fluid motion as we use it on a day to day basis. You're breaking down a physical process into steps and making it sounds like they're rather large steps, when in reality we don't think of it when we're doing it. It feels like one task that we're completing in a fluid motion. I mean, lets be real, when you're breathing, do you think, "Okay, I have to breath in now. That's step one. Alright, step two, I've got to be ready to gauge when my lungs are full and I should start the exhale process. Alright, my lungs are full, exhale. Step four, I don't think I can exhale any more... we need to return to step one."? When you outline it like that, it sounds like this complicated process we've been inundated with, when in reality it's something that will require nothing more than muscle memory.

So while I agree with the subjective tone to the statement, I think we're over complicating a similarly simplistic process, if nothing more than for the reason that it's new, and we're unsure of it.

 

[Jinkst]

OP works for Samsung at this point with the constant FaceID bashing threads right?

Get a life mate, your posts aren’t changing opinions or facts. Those that like it still do after reading this, those that don’t, don’t. Actually they now may because of your horrible objectivity.

 

[44267547]

OP works for Samsung at this point with the constant FaceID bashing threads right?

Ironically, the OP owns an iPhone 8. However, the OP is in extreme disapproval of Face ID and its future, which they continually attempt to channel through various threads on Macrumors as if it's going to influence others, When it's not.

 

[Ramiarna]

I think face ID is great. I just wish we did not have to swipe up to access the Home Screen. It should take you there automatically once it IDs you.

Then, if anyone wants then to view the notifications he/she can just swipe down from the left ear.

At least apple should make it an option in the settings.

 

[The Game 161]

Ironically, the OP owns an iPhone 8. However, the OP is in extreme disapproval of Face ID and its future, which they continually attempt to channel through various threads on Macrumors as if it's going to influence others, When it's not.

He owns an iPhone 8?

Make sense..another poster trying to justify his purchase

Nothing to see here

 

[Vundu]

The reason why I ask you to forget that you are actually touching the TouchID button is because after a while of using the phone, the physical interaction of touching the button is integrated into the process of simply picking the phone up.

How is that different than looking at the phone while you pick it up? Cant that be integrated into the process?

I bet the majority of the time you instinctively already do this also even without FaceID.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Not trying to make a drawn out post.

Think of TouchID as if there was nothing to touch. Pretend like TouchID simply knows you when you pick up the phone.

That's it. You simply pick up the phone. This is a one step process.

Now FaceID. You have to pick up your phone, look at your phone, and swipe up. Three steps.

The reason why I ask you to forget that you are actually touching the TouchID button is because after a while of using the phone, the physical interaction of touching the button is integrated into the process of simply picking the phone up.

This is an analysis of physical interaction between the two technologies. One requires you to simply hold your phone while the other is a three step process which includes picking it up, physically placing it in front of your face, and then using your hand to gesture for unlock.

If we use the principle that any technology can improve by simplifying it's process, we can see that TouchID is actually the superior technology.

Strictly objective.

Why are you spreading such nonsense?🙄
With Touch ID you have to pick up the phone (why else would you need to unlock it?), look at the screen (again: why elsa would you need to unlock it?) and press the Homebutton. THREE STEPS!😱

 

[Jinkst]

I think face ID is great. I just wish we did not have to swipe up to access the Home Screen. It should take you there automatically once it IDs you.

Then, if anyone wants then to view the notifications he/she can just swipe down from the left ear.

At least apple should make it an option in the settings.

If you didn't have to swipe up then any lockscreen notifications would be useless as soon as you look at the phone. They'd disappear immediately into Notification Center as the Home Screen appeared.

I much prefer the need to swipe given I don't always want to use my phone, I may just want to look for a missed call, message, email etc. This if anything is the same as Touch ID in that you can wake the phone and look at the lockscreen and then unlock/use should you wish to.

 

[sulpfiction]

But even when u rest ur finger on Touch ID before ur looking at it, the next thing that usually happens is u look at ur screen. So ur actually saving a step by not having to touch anything before u look at it. And I’ve seen that u can swipe up before u actually look at Face ID which opens directly to the home screen. Swipe up while picking ur phone up and that’s it. Ur gonna look at it anyway. So that’s just 1 step. And ur finger is ready for action on the home screen.

Same exact complains when Touch ID came out. Face ID is the future and it will get much better just like Touch ID did. People fear change...until they get used to it and realize it’s great. We shall see.

 

[simonmet]

Does anyone remember when OS X had voice recognition login? I wonder whatever happened to that!

 

[Derekeys]

I want a two step process.

Step 1: Wakes phone (tap to wake, raise to wake, tap side button to wake, whatever)
Step 2: Looks at phone and immediately opens to home screen. No swiping.

To me, this is kind of like the "Rest Finger to Open" option. And for all I know (been scouring through review vids), it still may be an option. I also want Apple Pay to pop up on its own when holding the X near a terminal instead of double tapping the side button. Kind of like it is right now...

 

[TroyBoy30]

with touch id you have to pick up your phone, put your finger on the home button and look at it. is that not 3 steps?

 

[Derekeys]

with touch id you have to pick up your phone, put your finger on the home button and look at it. is that not 3 steps?

There is no need to look at your phone if you have Touch ID.

 

[geoff5093]

with touch id you have to pick up your phone, put your finger on the home button and look at it. is that not 3 steps?

You don't have to pick up your phone, or look at it. So that's one step.

I often keep the phone on the table, and when I decide to use it I place my finger on TouchID and then start browsing.

 

[Juan007]

The sky is OBJECTIVELY purple. The sun OBJECTIVELY sets in the east.

English OP, do you understand it?

 

[jclardy]

The one thing FaceID cannot overcome yet with regards to speed, at least based on what we know so far about how it works, is that it depends on the user to recognize when it unlocks, and then to manually swipe up to unlock it. Those are milliseconds you cannot overcome no matter how fast the phone is: the human must do work on his end.

With TouchID, it does not require you to think or react. You just put your finger on the scanner, and it unlocks.

Now if FaceID implements an option to unlock without a swipe by just scanning your face, then it can be as fast as TouchID.

You don't have to wait for the lock to unlock, you can just swipe up as you are bringing it to your face then you will be on the homescreen once FaceID unlocks.

 

[Hoosier317]

There is no need to look at your phone if you have Touch ID.

...what is the point of unlocking it...if you aren’t also going to look at it?

 

[Derekeys]

...what is the point of unlocking it...if you aren’t also going to look at it?

This was a response to someone saying that unlocking an iPhone with Touch ID required 3 separate steps. Technically, to unlock an iPhone with Touch ID only requires one to wake the phone and rest their finger on the sensor. Again, this was just to answer the technical question of what was required to unlock the phone.

Additionally, looking at your phone from an angle other than looking directly at it is a very common thing for me. I'm surprised you've never unlocked your iPhone while it was laying flat on a table without putting your face directly over it just to check on a few missed notifications. Yes, I'm "looking" at the phone but not directly at it such as Face ID requires.

 

[Rafterman]

I like the idea of being able to unlock with one hand. I never got the hang of the one handed touch ID unlock. Especially with the plus.

 

[Derekeys]

You don't have to wait for the lock to unlock, you can just swipe up as you are bringing it to your face then you will be on the homescreen once FaceID unlocks.

I hope it's an option to not have to swipe. Just raise to wake while looking at it and you're at the home screen. And I do understand this would fly right by my notifications, but that is just my preference. 🙂

 

[ckurt25]

Not trying to make a drawn out post.

Think of TouchID as if there was nothing to touch. Pretend like TouchID simply knows you when you pick up the phone.

That's it. You simply pick up the phone. This is a one step process.

Now FaceID. You have to pick up your phone, look at your phone, and swipe up. Three steps.

...

Strictly objective.

Help me out... If I'm going to unlock my phone, I'm going to be using it, right? If I'm going to use it I'm going to look at it, right? There may be one but off the top of my head I can't think of a scenario where I'd unlock my phone and not look at it. So, wouldn't it be fair to eliminate that as a step as it's required to use it? I can't use my 7+ without looking at it.

My 7+ is sitting on my desk. I want to get to my home screen. 1) I pick it up. 2) I place my finger in the home button. 3) I press the home button. 3 Steps

 

[Derekeys]

I like the idea of being able to unlock with one hand. I never got the hang of the one handed touch ID unlock. Especially with the plus.

When I have a friend or family member set up their Touch ID, I always recommend they do it one handed. This helps to orient the user for that kind of unlock in the future.

The other way to make it super easy is to go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Home Button and enable "Rest Finger to Open". It's super fast but in general it works great.
[doublepost=1509543394][/doublepost]

Help me out... If I'm going to unlock my phone, I'm going to be using it, right? If I'm going to use it I'm going to look at it, right? There may be one but off the top of my head I can't think of a scenario where I'd unlock my phone and not look at it. So, wouldn't it be fair to eliminate that as a step as it's required to use it? I can't use my 7+ without looking at it.

My 7+ is sitting on my desk. I want to get to my home screen. 1) I pick it up. 2) I place my finger in the home button. 3) I press the home button. 3 Steps

This makes sense to a point. But you're doing 3 steps when I am only doing 2. Thanks to "Rest Finger to Open" I only raise to wake and rest my finger. That's 2 steps. I want those same 2 steps for Face ID. Raise to Wake and immediately be at the home screen. And yes, that would skip the notification screen, but I personally would love that option.

 

[DNichter]

Just move on. Touch ID is dead and isn't coming back. You pick up your phone and swipe to unlock, it's obviously better and will get better with time.

 

[justinTlME]

Not trying to make a drawn out post.

Think of TouchID as if there was nothing to touch. Pretend like TouchID simply knows you when you pick up the phone.

That's it. You simply pick up the phone. This is a one step process.

Now FaceID. You have to pick up your phone, look at your phone, and swipe up. Three steps.

The reason why I ask you to forget that you are actually touching the TouchID button is because after a while of using the phone, the physical interaction of touching the button is integrated into the process of simply picking the phone up.

This is an analysis of physical interaction between the two technologies. One requires you to simply hold your phone while the other is a three step process which includes picking it up, physically placing it in front of your face, and then using your hand to gesture for unlock.

If we use the principle that any technology can improve by simplifying it's process, we can see that TouchID is actually the superior technology.

Strictly objective.

Touch ID didn’t work for me about 30% of the time. I imagine my luck with Face ID will be better.

 

[Derekeys]

Just move on. Touch ID is dead and isn't coming back. You pick up your phone and swipe to unlock, it's obviously better and will get better with time.

I want Face ID to be better than Touch ID, but right now it's easier to unlock with touch id because of the single move vs. multiple steps of Face ID. For something we all do 100s of times a day, I want Face ID to be on par with the tech it's replacing.