Synaptics has been offering fingerprint sensor solutions for mobile devices for a while. But sometimes you want a little more assurance that only authorized people can unlock your phone, tablet, or notebook.
So now Synaptics is adding a multi-factor solution that combines a fingerprint reader and facial recognition.
If a device maker adopts the new platform, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use multi-factor biometric authentication, although doing so will probably make your device at least a little more secure.
But for the sake of convenience or personal preference, the system allows you to choose whether you want to use one or both of the secure login features at the same time. You can also switch depending on the situation.
For example if you’re outdoors and it’s cold out and you’re wearing gloves, a fingerprint sensor might not be the most convenient tool for unlocking your phone. But all you need to do is switch to facial recognition only before heading out into a blizzard.