Apple’s cutting edge Face ID facial recognition will even recognize users when they are wearing sunglasses (most of the time), Apple software engineering SVP Craig Federighi has revealed.
In an email to a developer, Federighi noted that the technology will work with “most, but not all” sunglasses — observing that the majority of sunglasses on the market with let through enough infrared light that Face ID can see through them to a person’s eyes.
E-mailed #CraigFederighi about #FaceID and actually got a response! pic.twitter.com/3Ytt1k6WvK
— Keith Krimbel (@KeithKrimbel) September 14, 2017
In addition, Federighi noted that gripping the side buttons on the iPhone will temporarily disable Face ID. Federighi was suggesting it as a way of protecting users against someone using Face ID against their will to unlock a person’s iPhone.
It’s not clear from Federighi’s comments how long this will stop Face ID from working, or how it will do so. At the Apple keynote this week, he suffered a snafu when trying to unlock Face ID because it had previously been entered incorrectly, and therefore needed to have the pincode manually entered.
Face ID has raised a number of questions since it was announced this week, although Apple strenuously notes that it is far more secure than Touch ID. Among the questions Apple has had surrounding Face ID is an open letter from Democratic Senator Al Franken — who asked Apple for information about how the system was trained, and for proof that it doesn’t show bias or could be abused by third parties.
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
2 responses to “Face ID will recognize you even when you’re wearing (most) sunglasses”
Not with my Sun Glass…I can promise you that … MAUI JIM … no way they can go through with my glass …
I wear Maui Jim’s with their new NJ Brilliant high end lenses (polarized) and it works fine with my Lumia 950 Iris scan . So I believe Apple saying FACE ID will work with most, including yours.