Face ID and the race to leave behind Touch ID and fingerprint sensors one year later
Apple has not shaken his hand this time. Face ID is found in all terminals of this generation: the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max. Even the lowest priced model, the iPhone XR, incorporates Face ID. This is an indication of how safe the company is with this technology, in addition to the increase in the ease of manufacturing and the reduction of manufacturing costs.
We reviewed Apple’s decision to remove Touch ID in favor of its facial recognition system a year later.
The five phases of adoption of a new Apple technology
Looking back, it is curious to see the reaction between the technological community and the replacement of Touch ID with Face ID. When it was not yet confirmed, many users expressed their outrage at this possibility. Although with the passage of time, those initial doubts have vanished.
That is why it is inevitable to think about the five phases of adoption of a technology implemented by Apple, when it replaces another one much loved by users:
Face ID Year 1: no trace of the competition
The technology that holds the notch of the iPhone comes from years of R & D, the occasional key acquisition and the alliance with key suppliers for its execution. The combination that has made it possible to develop, manufacture and deliver Face ID to tens of millions of customers over the last year has not been matched yet by the competition.
That leadership has led to affirm several media and analysts (including Ming-Chi Kuo and Reuters) that Apple has two years ahead of the competition. Almost a year after the market debut of the iPhone X, there is no sign of a similar solution from the competition. And those that are not reliable or advisable enough to make mobile payments, one of the additional features of Face ID.
Of course, one of the solutions put on the table is the integration of the fingerprint sensor below the screen of the device. Several models are already underway and it is known that the OnePlus 6T will incorporate it.
Its operation is quite similar to the Home button with finger sensor. You place your finger in a specific place on the screen and the terminal unlocks. However, there are several drawbacks in this use: the terminal needs to have the screen turned on and the unlocking point is small. With the screen off, there is no way to unlock the smartphone as with a button with a sensor.
That said, everything indicates that the path of the fingerprint sensor on a smartphone is not much longer. Facial recognition sensors similar in reliability to Face ID could still take another year to arrive. Meanwhile, Apple has given time to adjust the technology in the new generation of iPhone, in addition to increasing the fun uses through Animoji and Memoji.
