A Samsung patent that has now been spotted filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) seems to suggest that Samsung is considering a palm-based security method for its upcoming smartphones. However, this is not quite the same as the now-typical scan your face or fingerprint measures which typically result in the unlocking of a device. Instead, this seems to be more of a password reminder type of feature.
As in spite of the patent highlighting that the device will initially scan the person’s hand for verification (which is then matched to the on-file palm signature), the action does not result in the unlocking of the phone. It doesn’t even result in the revealing of the password (which as you would expect needs to be set first along with the initial ‘stock’ palm scan). At least, not in the traditional sense. As the images accompanying the patient show the scanning of one’s palm reveals the password but in a more cryptic fashion. The idea being that even if someone else manages to somehow scan your palm to reveal your password, they will still need to decipher the password based on the cryptic way it is presented. In contrast to the user who should immediately be able to recall the password due to familiarity with the characters shown. Making for quite the interesting approach to getting what is otherwise a fairly traditional password reminder. One of the images (shown below) also seems to suggest the feature might be capable of working in conjunction with a smartwatch.
With this being a patent, there is no guarantee that it will actually become a live feature on an upcoming smartphone – as is the case with any and all patents in general. However, Samsung is a company that has invested heavily in the security of its devices at the software and hardware level. The most recent examples of which being the introduction of face and eye unlocking to its Galaxy flagship devices. Security measures which are already in addition to standard identification protections such as a fingerprint sensor, a password, and/or a PIN. So if any company was likely to introduce a feature such as this, Samsung would likely be the company.
