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Face Recognition Goes Mainstream For Notebooks
MojoKid writes "Consumer and business-class computer security has clearly become more sophisticated over the years.
Recent advances in recognition technology have brought forth new capabilities, like what can be found in Toshiba A305 series notebooks. Toshiba's Face Recognition software allows you to log in to the system simply by having your face properly recognized by the integrated webcam during Windows startup. Of course, the system's TrueSuite Access Manager also allows you to do the same, only using your fingers and the integrated fingerprint reader. However, TrueSuite goes a step further with the fingerprint reader, also allowing you to log in to Web sites, applications, and networks as well by using just your fingerprints."
Considering windows is already loading by the time this system kicks in I'd say it's value is zero.
On the Oregon Cost born and raised, On the beach is where I spent most of my days
Total waste of time and money!
Yes and no. For someone buying a laptop and then making regular use of this technology, it's absurd, or at least little more than a toy when viwed from a security perspective. On the other, we all seem to be heading to a future where computers are, or least behave, in a more personal manner, so in that sense, this technology is, for lack of a better word, a really cool idea.
Then, consider that the world around around us is demanding increased security and is thus subject to increased surveillance and control. That's true from the CCTV cameras monitored by law enforcement, to the folks at your local DMV or voting precinct trying to prevent fraud, to the liquor store owner checking his store while he's at home. It's a fair assumption that with increasing interest in these technologies, we'll see a corresponding increases in research and development, which will, in the end, lead to widespread usage of whatever technology wins out, whether that's iris scans, fingerprints. forearm barcode tatoos, DNA, faces, or a combination of any of the above. If you took a vote on which approach people want, I doubt anyone would say "It's more passwords and PINs for me!".
If it becomes possible to replace every lock and key with some sort of recognition software, would you complain, or tout all the benefits? Or if you could save tax dollars by replacing local security on the streets and Home Depots everywhere with similar software, would you view that a good or bad idea?
Let's face it, the above scenarios aren't very likely, at least in the short term. We're still working on voice recognition. For now, however, it doesn't mean we can't have fun playing with Toshiba laptops.
I (briefly) had an HP business laptop (nc8430), and while I had a plethora of hardware issues compounded by poor tech support, I thought it's security suite was fantastic...better than what's on my current Thinkpad T60. It allowed me to choose which factors I wanted used for accessing various things, from logging in to handing out website passwords: password, fingerprint, smart card or USB 'token' (eg it would put a key file on an attached storage device). I could've had 4-factor authentication to log on. That would've been ridiculous, but I liked having the option, and if I'd had the damn thing long enough to get a smart card, I would've used that too, just for kicks, if nothing else.