Computer manufacturer Apple has continued its run of patent applications, applying for patents related to facial recognition technology and features that would allow its devices to display data on other objects.
One patent, which was filed just one week after the company applied for more touch screen-related patents, is called ID App and would enable portable devices to display data on nearby objects.
The application would use some sort of camera or GPS technology to identify certain objects and compare that against data. This would enable a user to take a picture of a landmark and have the device provide information about that landmark.
“After an object has been identified, the portable electronic device can provide additional information about the identified object,” the patent application said. “In some embodiments, the portable electronic device can search for the additional information based on the previously defined mode. In some embodiments, the portable electronic device can provide additional information with incrementally increasing levels of detail.”
The second patent filing describes facial-recognition technology, which would echo features already seen in Mac computers that allow the computer’s camera to take pictures of unauthorised users.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
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