News - VivaInk's $1 Digital Tattoo is the simplest way to unlock the Moto X

[HEXUS]

The temporary tattoos can sync with a Moto X and authenticate the wearer with just a tap.

Read more.

[Odeas]

So rather than quickly entering a pin or pattern (or even face detection) people are paying money to wave their phones over their arms or sleves to unlock?

That sounds like its actually extra effort not less!

[crossy]

So rather than quickly entering a pin or pattern (or even face detection) people are paying money to wave their phones over their arms or sleves to unlock?

That sounds like its actually extra effort not less!

Timing's strange - I was talking to someone this morning about the various methods that exist to lock/unlock smartphone. Discussion was interesting enough to me that I spent a minute or two raising a new thread on the Hexus "Smartphone" forum.

Coincidence is a strange thing.

[edzieba]

Alternative: embed chip into palm (biocompatible RFID chips are already commoditised), unlick you phone simply by holding it.

Ideally you;d want a semi-active NFC chip to perform handshaking to prevent trivial cloning, but anyone going to that much effort would be able to bypass other unlocking methods (e.g. pin, pattern) by simply watching you unlock your phone anyway.

[shaithis]

Tattoos, embedded bio chips?

Hows about remembering a 4 digit pin code? It's free and doesn't require surgery or a daily fee.

[Jonj1611]

There are probably better uses but for unlocking this wins my 2014 Stupid Idea Award

[crossy]

Tattoos, embedded bio chips? Hows about remembering a 4 digit pin code? It's free and doesn't require surgery or a daily fee.

PIN codes are (apparently) too easy to spot via shoulder surfing - especially given the Oscar-winning performance that some people do when entering them. Only way they could be more obvious would be if they stage whispered "I am now going to unlock my iPhone, now typing 1, then 2, then 3, and now 4". Not getting at iPhone owners by the way, but it's usually an Apple device that you see the "prancing fingers dance" being done on. Maybe Android owners are too ashamed? (for a bit of balance).

There are probably better uses but for unlocking this wins my 2014 Stupid Idea Award

Is it any dafter than a fingerprint reader that you can bypass with sellotape? And yes, there are dafter ideas out there - lick to unlock (DNA/chemical analysis), or breathalyser style blow-to-unlock (something about unique ketones) being the ones that I remember.

Can't help thinking that two-factor authentication, PIN code connected to bluetooth and/or NFC device would be the best option - especially as it doesn't need "rocket science" to put into place.

Have readers got any ideas on different ways this digital tattoo technology could be utilised? Let us know in the comments below.

Best suggestion I've heard is personalised ones that say "if found on gutter/park-bench please return to..." and sell them to the pub crawlers.

[Saracen]

Tattoos, embedded bio chips?

Hows about remembering a 4 digit pin code? It's free and doesn't require surgery or a daily fee.

It'll never catch on.