Skip to main content

EyeVerify developing an eye-scanning unlock tool for your phone

14036251-laser-scanning-eye-close-up
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’re constantly looking for ways to secure our devices. Nowadays, the most common is the alpha-numeric password protection. Some devices have introduced biometric fingerprint scanning, and we may be seeing more of that in the future. Coming up next, reports Gadget Review, will be eye scanning.

Developed by EyeVerify and introduced at the Mobile World Congress, Eyeprint is an application the company is currently working on; once ready, it will use a mobile device’s camera to snap a photo of the user’s eye, only unlocking the phone after verifying that the veins of the eye belong to the owner.

While some skeptics may wonder how accurate eye vein biometrics are, particularly when compared to a person’s fingerprint, the company assures that they’re just as accurate.

According to EyeVerify’s website, scanning one’s eye (or, as they call it, eyeprinting) takes four simple steps:

  1. Hold the phone anywhere from 6-12 inches away from the user’s eye.
  2. The user looks to the left or to the right, but not directly at the camera.
  3. The phone alerts the user when the scan is complete by vibrating.
  4. Total processing of the image is complete in less than one second.

The application isn’t quite ready for the market just yet, but the company assures that it’s close to finishing it and releasing to the public. No word yet on what the pricing may be.

It’s hard to say who EyeVerify is likely to target the product toward. We can imagine that the average user would find it much easier to just press a thumb down on the screen rather than to snap a photo of their eye each time they want to use their phone, particularly because so many of us are constantly locking and unlocking our phones, so it could prove to be a bit of a pain.

Editors' Recommendations

Joshua Pramis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Spending a childhood engrossed in such technologically inspiring television shows like Voltron, Small Wonder, and Power…
Apple made an outrageous change to its new iPads
An official photo of the 2024 iPad Air.

After a year-long drought of iPads, Apple finally revealed the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models during its Let Loose event on May 7. This was a unique announcement because it broke some old traditions; the iPad Air now comes in two sizes: an 11-inch and 13-inch, just like the iPad Pro. But these new iPads are also breaking another longtime tradition: They won’t come with iconic Apple stickers. Gasp.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple Store teams received a memo where Apple explained that the iconic Apple stickers won’t be included inside the boxes of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. The reasoning? As part of Apple’s environmental goals, it is trying to ensure that its packaging is completely free of plastic.

Read more
The 5 best AirTag alternatives for 2024
Chipolo ONE 2020 attached to keys in hand.

Losing material goods is an inevitable part of life, but that doesn’t mean we should just lay down and wait for an item to disappear. Instead, we should spend our time investing in handy tracking devices. Apple’s AirTag lineup is one of the best-known options, but there are plenty of other brands to choose from, too. Whether you need to keep tabs on wallets, car keys, or other important possessions, these five AirTag alternatives are easy to set up, simple to use, and above all, reliable.

Read more
Today’s Galaxy Tab S9 deal: $100 off and free Buds 2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Tab s9 back and front visible

If you've had your eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 for a while, now's the perfect time to buy the tablet. The 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD model is available from Samsung tablet deals for $700, following a $100 discount on its original price of $800, and you'll get the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, worth $230, for free. That's a total of $330 in savings if you proceed with the purchase right away, so what are you waiting for? Complete the transaction right now, because the bargain may be gone as soon as tomorrow.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra are featured in our roundup of the best tablets, but don't ignore the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. The base model of the tablet is an excellent tool for all-around usage with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 8GB of RAM, which combine for dependable performance in handling everyday functions. The device comes with internal storage of 128GB, but if that's not enough for you, there's an option for extra space of up to 1TB by inserting a microSD card.

Read more