Fingerprint locks and smart home facial recognition launched to growing consumer biometrics market

A pocket safe unlocked with smartphone biometrics, a new member of the BenjiLock fingerprint family, and a padlock for smart homes in India are hitting shelves, while Apple may be about to launch support for facial recognition in its smart home ecosystem.

A pocket-sized portable lockbox unlocked through mobile device biometrics introduced by Trova has been spotted by Mashable.

The Trova Go fits in a large pocket or small handbag, according to the report, and fits a variety of items at once. The lockbox includes an internal strap to keep credit cards or cash safe, an upper lid strap and magnet to keep small jewelry and similar items safe, and a silicone over-mold that conceals odors, the company says.

In addition to providing fingerprint unlocking, the associated mobile app provides tracking should the device be lost.

The Trova Go is available for a manufacturers’ suggested retail price of $249.

BenjiLock by Hampton has added a Fingerprint Cable Shackle lock to its TSA Travel/Luggage line to secure devices with hard-to-lock shapes, the company has announced.

A version with a flexible 1-inch cable shackle allows awkwardly-shaped bags to be quickly locked for Travel Sentry-approved security without keys or combinations. The lock can be opened and secured again by airport security in the event they are checked unexpectedly at the gate. The lock measures approximately 1-7/8” H x 1-3/8 ” W x 3/4″ D, comes with a resettable combination, and does not require an app to use. It features a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a covered braided steel shackle, and can store up to five fingerprints.

The new lock was unveiled at the Travel Goods Show earlier this month, and retails for $49.99.

A new smart biometric padlock that can hold up to 40 fingerprints has been brought to the Indian consumer market by Portronics, ELE Times reports.

The sturdy Biolock can be used for cabinet doors, storage lockers or bikes, among other uses, according to the report, and unlocks with authorization in less than half a second. The product is IP66-rated, weighs 59 grams, features tamper resistant stainless steel and zinc alloy coating, and takes 30 minutes to recharge a battery lasting up to 6 months.

The Biolock retails for INR 2,999 (US$40).

Apple HomeKit “likely” to add facial biometrics

The new iOS 14 HomeKit smart home framework from Apple is “likely” adding facial biometrics, 9to5Mac reports. The smart camera capabilities including object recognition for people, animals, and vehicles, were introduced with the HomeKit Secure Video in the previous version.

The feature is expected to consist of face classification with identification for family members through smart home cameras.

Other new features include Night Shift, which makes lighting more comfortable, and new Apple TV audio output options.

Consumer biometrics market

The global market for consumer biometrics is forecast to have a CAGR of 19.6 percent from 2020 to 2025 by Mordor Intelligence, as demand for identity authentication for access control rises with increased connectivity and digitization.

The new “Consumer Biometrics Market – Growth, Trends and Forecasts (2020-2025)” report predicts that further technological advances for biometric sensors will lead to their implementation in ever more laptops and mobile electronic devices, and that improved security will drive significant growth in mobile payments.

Article Topics

BenjiLock  |  biometric lock  |  biometrics  |  consumer devices  |  facial recognition  |  fingerprint authentication  |  market report  |  smart homes