Heartbeat sensors are fast becoming the standard, or at least a desirable feature, in the high tech world of wearable tech that’s literally popped up from behind the scenes in the last 18 months. But how many uses are there for a plain old heartbeat sensor. Apple’s Apple Watch seems to think that it’s a cool enough a feature to include the ability to live stream your heartbeat to another Apple Watch user in the upcoming device. Cool story, but it’s not really practical.
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However, the unique characteristics of everyone’s heartbeat could soon be used as a method of identifying people, with individuals hearts making their own specific rhythms known as electrocardiograms. These rhythms are as unique as a fingerprint, and can be used to unlock things or verify the user’s identity.
Tech company Bionym are hard at work on this new tech, announcing a wristband known as the Nymi, which will allow users to use their electrocardiogram to unlock doors, phones and even authorise bank transaction. Bionym claims that the heart rhythm is harder to forge than fingerprints, and is much more secure since a device must be worn in order to verify the user’s identity – as soon as it’s removed the link is gone, so no forgeries.
the Nymi band is lightweight and unobtrusive, according Bionym it is a ‘wearable technology device that delivers persistent identity experiences by using the wearer’s unique electric cardiac signature as a biometric’, and the device itself looks a lot less bulky than other current smartbands.
One of Bionym’s directors, Balaji Gopalan, spoke about the device’s intimate security. ‘Anywhere you go the bracelet will identify you to other devices, which could be the payments wallet on your smartphone, or in future, cash machines, cars and computers.
‘It is also mugger-proof because the bracelet forms a circular electrical circuit that wipes the device when disconnected – that is, taken off.’
Nymi’s electronic heartbeat sensors mean that indeed when the band is removed all systems on the device cease to function – it’s not going to be a viable target for theft since the owner has to be there with it to get it to work, and works without requiring any input from the user.
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Bionym themselves are backed by a $9 million investment from companies such as Ignition Partners, Relay Ventures, Mastercard and Salesforce Ventures – all big investors with big hopes that the tech will explode onto the market. With the advent of wireless payment systems this year and those coming early 2015, the Nymi band does indeed look like it has a place in the upcoming tech world.
Via: the Daily Mail
Source: Nymi Website