Is Sony Fighting for the Biometric Throne?
A newly released patent application from Sony, indicates that the company may be looking to use biometric recognition as a way of customizing your interactions with computers and other devices around your house.
The patent details a biometric verification method using vein readers within the device, which compare the user’s vein pattern against the “known” patterns contained within a customized database. Once verified, the user’s custom settings for that device would be loaded. For example, the vein verification could be contained within a mouse, allowing a user to login to their computer and have their settings, like monitor brightness, text size, and volume levels, loaded without even having to click the mouse.
Now for most of us in the biometrics world, having technology like this work flawlessly on a computer would be fantastic, but computers didn’t appear to be enough for our friends at Sony. The patent also seems to think their vein might be useful in other areas of the home as well. We aren’t talking about environmental controls, like lighting, or even about unlocking the doors of your house. The engineers at Sony are aiming a little bit higher than that; they have eyes on your throne.
That’s right, your toilet.( No seriously, check it out.)
The second half of the patent details the same method of biometric verification being used in conjunction with a doorknob and a fairly high tech toilet. Essentially, as you grab the door knob (or handle) on your way into the bathroom, it verifies your vein “signature” and begins the process of customizing your toilet experience. The potential customizations include things like seat temperature, water pressure (from the all important bidet), and while the patent doesn’t specifically list it, it could also include things like water level (for those of you who are environmentally conscious).
What do you think, are bathrooms the future of biometrics? Or is a customized baño experience a bridge to far? Let us know in the comments section below!
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