IPhone may soon be able to map your face for 3D selfies
Apple may be considering a camera for authentication and augmented reality
Rumours about new iPhones normally centre on the screen, processing chips or whether there will be a headphone jack. But a new report from 9to5 Mac highlights something that could be a little controversial for Apple’s next smartphone: a camera that can map your face.
Apple may be considering a camera designed for authentication and augmented reality for its next high-end iPhone, according to a research note from Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo of KGI Securities. With a better sense of depth, this type of camera can tell how far away something is from the lens. It could even generate something like a 3D selfie, 9to5 Mac reported. Apple declined to comment on the rumours.
Such a camera seems to be a natural next step for Apple. It already organises iPhone photos based on the subjects it recognises in the images. Its competitors, such as Microsoft and Samsung, have used facial recognition for years to unlock phones.
However, facial recognition technology has had some problems. Companies including Hewlett-Packard and Nikon have faced criticism when their cameras had trouble recognising non-white faces and features. Some experts say that problem could arise when the algorithms aren’t exposed to a variety of faces.
Security experts have raised questions about facial recognition as a form of authentication because it doesn’t always work that well. But experts say Apple’s reported plan to use a depthsensing camera addresses those issues.