Biometrics has become a hot topic thanks to iPhone 5S’ Touch ID feature. The topic has seen propositions of heartbeat unlock technologies, touch based unlocking options in Silent-Sense, and of course the fingerprint unlock feature in iPhone 5S. As we have shown you, it is very possible to hack iPhone 5S’ Touch ID.Ā Heartbeat unlock on the other hand has its numerous challenges and Silent-Sense is not 100% accurate. So the next big thing is using waves produced by your brain as a security feature; meaning, Security Checks, identification and authentication of persons can now be based on waves emanating from the brain. The system is currently being proposed for pilots and drivers.
Brainwave biometric is based on the concept that every individual has unique alphe-beta waves just as fingerprints. Once a pilot or driver has been scanned, the biometric system (installed in the airplane or vehicle) continuously authenticate the user by continuously monitoring the brainwaves. This would solve the problem of hijacking. Today hijackers can compromise the authentication system through force or hacking.Ā The technology could also eventually be used to prevent drunk driving incidents because alpha-beta waves are altered by alcohol.Ā āBrain waves are generated by the neural activities in the cerebral cortex; therefore, it is hidden in the body and cannot be bypassed,ā the team behind the project said.
The authentication method can work for a number of applications such as for vehicles carrying valuable commodities, money or sensitive materials as well as public transportation vehicles and taxis. The system would however require drivers to wear headgear with sensors.
If this application becomes successful, then Apple, Samsung and the rest could make your brain your password. This is possible given initial findings from another study that had proposed the use of brainwaves for unlocking doors and vaults. According to the Canadian researcher, each person produces unique brainwave pattern when thinking of something. So instead of inputting a password to a device, one would be required to only think of an object or a password. Devices will then read the brainwave pattern produced at the instant when the thinking was done. Another person thinking of the same password or object would produce a different pattern. So you could log into your Facebook just by staring at your comp/phone and, instead of typing in your password, you just think it out. ReadĀ the study here.
