I pick up my Android device, tap the power button, and place my thumb on the screen. A glowing green line moves up and down vertically reminding me of KITT’s hood sensor on Knight Rider (the sounds effects are there too). A notification sounds and my screen turns on.
OK, that would be cool, but it doesn't exist (and probably too lengthy to unlock your phone). Well, not in that exact form anyway. XDA member Mgamerz has posted a thread listing some details about a fingerprint scanning SDK released by AuthenTec. It turns out the Motorola Atrix works with the scanning and is reported as “amazing”. Hopefully, the thread will really take off and get some support to see what this software really can do.
Google has already announced Google Wallet will be equipped with a fingerprint sensor. This should bring on a wave of devices following suit to support that technology in the near future. Just recently, HTC announced their first NFC device though I didn't see any mention of fingerprint scanning. Maybe it will be later than sooner if it trends like Gingerbread has.
Devices like mice and other USB peripherals have tried to use finger print scanning but seemed to not catch on to the masses (we've seen the same happen with face recognition). I have faith it will be different this time around. Come on Google, give me a Knight Rider type scanner on my Android device. Please?
Would you look forward to this technology for phone security or just another gimmick that might fail? Hit up the comments.
[via XDA]
I think fingerprint recognition would be awesome on tablets and cell phones. It would catch on being as though it is an easy secure method of logging in.
Are all phones picking up this feature (i.e. iPhone)?