A analyst renowned for making the right projections about future iphone technology has said the next iteration will have an 'under-panel', optical fingerprint sensor.KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via 9to5Mac) has predicted Apple will add an 'under panel' system, which won't use the capacitive tech provided by AuthenTec, which Apple purchased in 2013.Kuo also believes Apple is developing a new Touch ID technology for its next iPhone “to complement its full-screen (zero bezel) form factor design and to enhance transactions security”. According to Kuo, the existing “under glass” design of fingerprint recognition doesn't meet the requirements of full-screen form factor designs, therefore an “under panel” placement is required.As a result, Kuo says Apple aims to switch from the current capacitive-type to an optical-type system. Despite the technology still being in the early stages of development and the fact that OLED panel makers will have to provide bespoke designs for the system to work, Kuo believes Apple has the bargaining power to request the customizations.Echoing another predication made an analyst last week, he said the fingerprint recognition system will “ultimately be replaced by a facial recognition system,” rather than iris.”Judging by the bio-recognition patents that Apple has applied for, we believe it is leaning toward facial recognition technology rather than iris recognition. However, we note that the technical challenges of facial recognition include: (1) algorithms; (2) hardware design; and (3) the build-out of a database for verification and authentication, which could be time consuming. As such, before Apple can fully replace the fingerprint system with facial recognition, a combination of the two steps of bio-recognition could be a valid solution for enhancing transactions security.
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