Goodbye Passwords: Biometric Authentication

Next, we continue introducing 10 innovations driving global business and communication trends, as highlighted by the Vizeum Innovation Team.

British adults currently possess an average of 19 passwords each, in addition to numerous PINs and usernames. These are not only easy to forget but also vulnerable to theft or interception, leading to frequent large-scale hacking and data breaches.

Biometric authentication, once limited to high-security applications like police facilities, military bases, and IC passports, is now rapidly being adopted as a new method to unlock smartphones and tablets.

The fingerprint-authenticated bicycle lock "Grasp," which started as a crowdfunding project, is reportedly about to go on sale. In 2015, Mastercard announced a feature enabling payments via fingerprint authentication and facial recognition using selfies. Listerine developed the "Smile Detector" app, which allows visually impaired users to detect nearby "smiles."

Grasp unlocks with fingerprint authentication. Fingerprints are registered via smartphone.

Mastercard allows users to choose between fingerprint or facial recognition for online payments. For facial recognition, the camera function activates, prompting the user to take a photo of their face.

Smile Detector lets you know when someone is smiling, even if you can't see them. The visually impaired person featured in the commercial says they've been smiling more too. (Click the image to watch the video on the official website)

What will 2016 bring?

Going forward, iris recognition technology like EyeLock's "Myris"—which reads the iris through a webcam—is expected to be integrated into smartphones and mobile computers. Beyond biometric identifiers like irises and fingerprints, systems that read unique movement patterns and gestures will likely emerge. Australian data technology firm Data61 has already successfully conducted experiments focusing on how people hold their phones differently and how they position them against their ears.