What is the safest system to verify our identity? The safest would be an iris reader, but it does not seem the most comfortable if we take into account that we will always have to have the eye well accessible and illuminated. On the other hand, the fingerprint reader is more comfortable, but it is a little less secure. If we wanted something more secure, what we would have to do is combine two verification systems, and that is what has advanced today Synaptics.
Shortly before CES 2017 officially begins, Synaptics today announced a new multi-factor biometric system, designed for use on mobiles, tablets and laptops, which incorporates both a fingerprint reader and facial recognition, allowing users to unlock a device by choosing the best system for each situation. To achieve this, Synaptics has worked with KeyLemon, a company that works on facial recognition.
Synaptics and KeyLemon Partner to Launch Multi-Factor Biometric System
But the most important thing about the system that Synaptics has presented today is that, to increase the security of the device or of any of the steps taken from it, we could combine the two factors if we so desired.
Synaptics' multi-factor fusion engine combines authentication points from multiple biometric measures to determine verification. This increases the overall security of the system, as both fingerprint and facial factors have to meet the minimum threshold requirements prior to authentication. Additionally, the merge engine improves usability, as lower individual verification thresholds still result in higher security.
Another interesting point about the latest Synaptics invention is that it is made spoof-proof, since it uses artificial intelligence to distinguish between a real finger and a fake one. The facial recognition system also checks eye brightness and head movement to prevent spoofing or use of a still image.
Personally, asked, I would have preferred that Synaptics had used iris recognition instead of facial recognition, but the company's vice president of marketing, Anthony Gioeli says they will include “biometric measurements and additional safety factors" in the future. Will we see something similar on the iPhone 8?