Samsung’s next Galaxy S5 could apparently come equipped with an eye scanning technology instead of a fingerprint scanner, says a report from Patentbolt. This is the latest rumor among the plethora of other such speculations that are encircling the new Galaxy S5.
Benefits and risk for Samsung of iris in Galaxy S5
According to some of the sources, Samsung has filed a patent for an iris scanning authentication process for use in a smartphone, whose name is not revealed, in the filing. However, it is widely accepted that the electronics major will use this technology in the Galaxy S5 or some later models.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) might be resorting to eye scanning instead of fingerprint sensor as the technology is more reliable and faster than the latter. Samsung would use the technology to carve out a niche for itself, and position itself differently from its competitors, who are more inclined towards fingerprint technology after Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) used the technology in its latest model, the iPhone 5S.
For Samsung, a possible risk may be that it would have to develop the technology in-house to bring down the cost. The process may either be a successful one or a failure depending upon the implementation. However, with the filing, Samsung has made out clear that it intends to use the technology in one of its devices, possibly the Galaxy S5.
Functions of iris scanning
The purpose of iris scanning technology is to gather information on the characteristics of respective attributes of irises of people, and then use the information in verification technology for security. Compared to fingerprint technology, iris has a unique patent and the numbers are larger when compared to fingerprint. Also, in iris scanning there is no contact made between any body part and the device, which could be more comfortable for users. Even if the individual is wearing lenses or eyeglasses his or her identity can be scanned in less than two seconds. It is a step forward from fingerprint scanning.
The terminal for iris scanning and proximity sensing is expected to have an input unit for receiving selected information of the operation mode from a user, a controller for controlling iris sensing and proximity sensing, a proximity sensing unit for sensing if the object is near and an iris sensing unit for photographing an iris. It may also include a display unit for showing feedback information and a storage unit to store different data.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) will consider all aspects and will implement the technology accordingly. Through the technology, Samsung aims at offering a method to enhance the iris scanning rate using proximity sensor built into a terminal without installing a separate infrared ray illuminator. Also, through this innovation Samsung wishes to provide a station and a method that will provide an illuminator required for iris sensing along with proximity sensing.