If your fingerprint isn't secure enough for you, you might be able to use your face to unlock your iPhone someday.
Apple Insider reported Tuesday on a new Apple patent called "Personal computing device control using face detection and recognition." In other words, the technology would let you unlock your iPhone by having it scan your face.
Remember when we were scared of people cutting off our fingertips to steal our iPhones? Apple could be taking things to a whole new level.
It's worth noting that people are already freaked out by current facial recognition technology. The LA Times reported Tuesday that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration plans to study the privacy implications of the technology, with the agency's first meeting on the issue early next year.
Facebook uses facial recognition technology on its over 1 billion members. And the Xbox One's Kinect camera is always on and can recognize users by their faces, a feature that some have called "creepy."
Some have even wondered if the Xbox's camera could be used by the NSA to spy on people. Americans are especially sensitive to surveillance now, but would that fear be overcome by our unbridled enthusiasm for Apple products? Guess we'll find out what we think about having a face-recognizing camera in our pockets 24/7 if Apple ever makes use of this patent for a new iPhone.
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