Innovation is Apple's middle name. The fruit company's latest patent reveals facial recognition for iPhone and iPad could soon be an official reality in next generation iOS devices.
The image shown above, courtesy of AppleInsider, perfectly depicts how facial recognition on iPhone and iPad is going to work. We think its about time Apple ventured in to the facial recognition arena. It's main competitors such as Google and Microsoft have already been playing this field since a long, long time.
By studying this patent in detail, one can actually figure out how facial recognition on iPhone and iPad is going to be an amazing feature. First and foremost, it will open up the possibility of having multiple user accounts on an iOS device. The facial recognition technology will automatically recognize the user and load up their respective user profile including but not limited to settings, music playlists and applications. Currently, it is not possible to have multiple user accounts on a single iOS device. Sure you can share a device with your friends or family, but there isn't a solution that will keep the data of all users in utmost privacy, in their respective user profiles. If facial recognition on iPhone and iPad is introduced as a primary feature in next generation iOS devices it can very well change how the world views tablets and smartphones, all over again.
At this point in time if someone mentions facial recognition, it sounds like a very sophisticated technology only being used by people the likes of James Bond. Sure enough, large companies and corporations used facial recognition solutions for employee check-ins and check-outs. It would surely be a feat for Apple to bring facial recognition on iPhone and iPad as a feature that the masses can easily use. Apple explains in this patent the methods that would be used for successfully recognizing a user's face. It has also been added that this feature will consume minimal amount of processing and battery power. By this, it can be safely said that facial recognition on iPhone and iPad will be an always-on feature instead of one which would require manual start. You can read the whole patent in detail, here.
We can't say for sure exactly when facial recognition on iPhone and iPad will become a reality. Apple doesn't exactly bring all of its patented technologies to life. If this does happen though, it's going to be freaking amazing.