Samsung Galaxy Note 7 iris scanner images leaked
Mon 25 Jul 2016
Images of the iris scanner rumored to be included as a special feature of the Galaxy Note 7 have been leaked online. While the images confirm the iris scanner’s presence in the Note 7, a disclaimer that outlines the many limitations of the scanner has also been found. The iris scanner will be available along with fingerprint scanners as an additional option for users, rather than as a replacement for fingerprint technology.
The iris scanner is a new function that will work with the Note 7’s Grace UX interface, and can be set up by a user in just a few seconds. The ‘Irises’ setup function is in the Lock Screen and Security menu, just under ‘Fingerprints’. All one has to do is hold the phone 25-30 cm away, center the eyes in the appropriate circles, and the iris scanner is calibrated to the user. Then it works like a fingerprint scanner; the phone will be unlocked when the irises are captured by the smartphone and checked against the stored image.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Iris settings (pic: Android Authority)
The list of limitations to the technology, however, is extensive. The iris scanner may not work if you register your eyes in bright light then attempt to unlock your phone in low light, or vice versa. It may not work properly if you have contacts, glasses, or have had LASIK correctional surgery, or if you have puffy or narrowed eyes. It is also sensitive to the condition of the phone, and may not work if the phone is tilted, shaken, dirty, or exposed to humid conditions or water, or if the phone is not held at precisely the correct level and angle.
In a patent procured by Samsung, the iris recognition system will use an infrared light directed at the iris for image capture in a three-lens system. Once the image is captured, it will be used for user identification along with images of the user’s face as backup verification.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Iris settings (pic: Android Authority)
Iris scanning is generally considered more secure than fingerprint scanning, as fingerprint technology is widespread and security flaws are exposed. A flaw in the Galaxy S5 was revealed last year to make it possible for hackers to take a copy of a user’s fingerprints and use it to unlock the phone. Last week, it was revealed that 3D printers can now replicate a person’s fingerprints as well, when a professor in Michigan replicated a person’s fingerprint to help police access a smartphone as part of a murder investigation.
