As the password makes its slow fade towards extinction, many
technologies are jockeying for position as the next method for securing
online accounts. We’ve told you about brain waves, fingerprints, even magic rings, but a new technique is literally getting to the heart of the matter. PHOTOS: Stunning Maps Help Visualize Complex Data A wristband dubbed Nymi confirms a user’s identity via
electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors that monitor the heartbeat and can
authenticate a range of devices, from iPads to cars. Developers at
Bionym, the Toronto-based company that makes the device, say the peeks
and valleys of an individual’s heartbeat are harder to imitate than the
external features of biometric systems, like fingerprints or facial
recognition. To register their identity, uses touch a sensor on top of the
wristband for about two minutes while Nymi records an ECG signature.
Once it’s stored, it will only recognize that signature.
Accessing a device is simple: users touch the top of the wristband for a few seconds while Nymi cross-references the heartbeat. Once authenticated, the system communicates via Bluetooth to an app running on a designated device. When the wristband is removed, linked devices automatically lock.
Nymi even appears to have gesture control capabilities. For
example, a wave of the hand or a flex of the wrist could correspond with
unlocking the driver’s-side or passenger-side door. A secure payment
feature is also slated, where users could swipe their wrist in a
check-out lane to have funds directly debited from their bank account.
The wristband will also include vibrations, alerting wearers to email or
social media messages that will appear on a small LED screen.Pre-orders of Nymi begin on September 4. Launch prices start at $79 and
are expected to remain under $100. First editions will be compatible
with iOS, Android, Windows and Mac OS X devices. Catch a glimpse of Nymi
in Bionym’s promo video.
Accessing a device is simple: users touch the top of the wristband for a few seconds while Nymi cross-references the heartbeat. Once authenticated, the system communicates via Bluetooth to an app running on a designated device. When the wristband is removed, linked devices automatically lock.
