Apple developing new authentication technology for the smart watch based on heart rate?

After being the first to create a fingerprint sensor to authenticate its mobile devices, based on a recent patent application, Apple is working on developing a new authentication technology for its smart watch. This new biometric technology will verify a user based on their heart rate.

The technology is based on photoplethysmography (PPG), which measures minute changes in blood volume and pressure. Simplified, light emitters send light that penetrates the skin, and light sensors measure the amount of light that bounces back to the device. This measures the amount of blood flow in the user’s skin and other biometric characteristics, which can be used together to authenticate a user.

Importantly, aside from authenticating and unlocking a smart watch, the information is expected to be used to authenticate Apple Pay transactions. 

It’s not yet known whether Apple has created a working prototype. The small size of a smart watch creates a design challenge. The smart watch would have to have additional technology to verify the accuracy of the biometric reading. That’s a lot of technology to fit in a very small space. 


Next-Gen Apple Watch Models Could Identify Users Based On Their Veins Via Heart-Rate Sensor, Patent Application Says

By Chris Loterina, Tech Times, October 17, 2016