Just An Idea

Hi folks. First of all, an update on my last post and its circumstances, in that I was compensated for my inability to do laundry The previous week and I actually got help with loading the laundry card. I did it once (on the day I got help) and that was it. When will I attempt to load my card on my own? I have no idea. All I know is that I am not going to except the compensation, without movement on making machines accessible. This is especially for the ones which allow us to load our laundry cards and the washers and dryer’s aren’t that much of a problem. So, hopefully there is going to be lots of work done (even if it’s in a hurry) because there are other people who will be affected by this change in laundry contractors and Coinamatic will have to do a lot more damage control, then just compensating people with loaded laundry cards. I have had no further contact with the company since October 28th and I’m not getting my hopes up that I will either. However, I am hopeful that there will be some movement on new card loading machines, that resemble bank machines. Basically, if you have headphones with a 3.5 mm jack, you could plug them in and a voice will talk to you through how to navigate the machine, in order to complete your transaction. So, Coinamatic is not off the hook yet and won’t be, until I and others like me can operate the machines on our own, without being watched or babysat.

Today, I want to talk about something different which I haven’t touched upon in a while. In the past I’ve made comments about the iPhone and various iOS updates and I haven’t had much to say, until now. Thankfully, it’s positive in that I have a new iPhone and, it’s one of the newer iPhones with Face ID. I had reservations about getting an iPhone 13 Pro, because of face ID and the thing that pushed me the other way is the option for 1 TB storage capacity. This of course, allows me to put everything I’ve ever bought on iTunes on my iPhone and have room to spare, so I can get more for the next couple of years.

My reservations about using Face ID are not quite unfounded, because of the pandemic and the fact that we have to wear masks and, you cannot create an appearance with a mask, in order to unlock your phone with Face ID. If it was possible, sure I’d be completely at peace with Face ID. I am at peace with it, but I don’t like having to enter my code in all the time, especially when there are people watching, or who could be watching me enter my six digit passcode in order to unlock my phone. My Bluetooth keyboard does help, but I don’t like taking it out all the time. However, it’s better than nothing.

Could there be a way in which we Who have phones with Face ID (during the COVID-19 pandemic) wish to unlock iPhones in our pockets without having to take them out or enter the passcode? Maybe not, but I have an idea in which there could be a way to disable face ID and the passcode feature temporarily with an automation. I call it face ID Memory and my idea of how it works is that when you open the settings app, go into Face ID and there could be a new option for setting up an automation, similar to how focus works in iOS 15. What this could do is disable face ID and having to enter your passcode for a set time, by the user. The catch is that you won’t be able to use Apple Pay to purchase items in a store, unless there’s a way to include it in the automation. If that is possible, it will certainly make things faster, where you could just whip out your phone pay for something and go on your merry way.

Here’s how it could work and this is my own idea and nobody else knows about it yet, except on one Youtube channel, where I had made a comment on the iPhone 14 and what they thought the potential could be for it. First of all, you go to settings as usual and then go to Face ID, tap on it and enter the pass code as prompted normally. Then at some point there could be an option where you can create an automation called Face ID Memory, which allows you to set up an automation. You can set it up to turn on at a set time and turn off at another set time, which is set by you. Or, you can have it turn on and off at a certain location, much like some automations do with focus mode. This would allow you to unlock your iPhone without using Face ID or entering in your pass code and you can unlock your phone in your pocket, or a backpack like you could with touch ID. However, when this is turned off you will probably need to enter your passcode again, in order to reactivate Face ID, much like when you restart your phone and you had to enter your passcode with either touch ID, or face ID. Maybe the same thing could be done for touch ID users to, but I think it’s more impactful for those who use face ID, because during the pandemic we are wearing masks in public and sure, we could pull them down for a moment to use Face ID in order to use Apple Pay. However, what if you were in a hurry and don’t want to do that? My idea could be your solution and like I said, this could only be temporary and not a permanent thing unless you said it to start at 12:00 AM and end at 11:59 PM the same day and you can only set it up with Face ID and not in focus. That is, unless my gnu idea could be added into focus, along with do not disturb and others which are currently options. However, I think that it should be separate from focus mode, because you may not want to be disturbed and you don’t want to go through having to look at your phone, or enter in your passcode every time you unlock it. This way, there is a better chance of using 2 automations at the same time and once again, it will make things a lot easier for everybody.

I’m sure that there are reasons for it not to work and I get it. This could be a security issue, as well as a safety issue for some and Apple might not want to touch this idea, as it could result in people stealing iPhones and finding it easy to do whatever they want to do, while the automations active. However, it could teach people to be more careful with their iPhones and not take them for granted and be aware of their surroundings. For example: in shopping malls there could be people walking around looking for things to steal and pickpocketer’s love hanging around shopping malls and especially during busy sales days and if they bump into you, you know it’s game over and you could kiss your iPhone goodbye. However, if you are very careful and keep your iPhone close to you at all times this could work for you.

The main reason for this idea to be taken seriously and for it to succeed is that some people would prefer to unlock their phones while their device is in their pockets and with touch ID or before that, you could do that. With Face ID, you can’t do that and people could potentially see your phone in your hand and those who want to steal iPhones (for whatever reason might be hung really looking at you, unlocking your iPhone and they may not pounce as yet, but when you least expect it they could perpetrate their crime, namely the theft of your device. What Apple could do (if they decide to go in this direction and add this feature to Face ID) is to put in a warning to those who use it. The warning could say something like this:

Please use this feature wisely and do not be careless with how you set up automations. People could potentially steal your iPhone if they see how easy it is for you to unlock your device.

The main message of the warning could be please use this wisely and don’t be a fool. After all, these phones are expensive, whether you are getting it through a contract from your carrier, or buying the phone out right. In other words, proceed with caution and be careful where you go, not to show off your phone like you have bling because you’re asking for trouble if you do that. Then again, if it is an option which you can set up for select locations it could be worth looking at and Apple could consider adding it to newer devices with Face ID. Again, I’m sure it can be added to touch ID devices and that argument is also a good one, because your hands may not be dry enough when you try to unlock your phone and unfortunately, the home button cannot perform this task, because you’re hands may not be totally dry, therefore it may not recognize your fingerprint temporarily and you have to enter your passcode.

So, what do you think? It’s just an idea in my head and nothing more. It may become something for a future iOS update, if Apple is unable to add both Face ID and touch ID to newer phones (which have that option) and like I said before, it could be very useful for those who are in a hurry and live lives which are Busy, with the kids or any other reason for a full schedule. It also could have been helpful during the pandemic, but nobody had even thought of this possible feature, in case of something like this and the fact that we have to wear masks in public, due to public health restrictions.

I’m not even sure that the name is correct, because when I had first thought of this idea I had both “Face ID Memory” or “Face ID Override” as possible names for this feature. However, the idea of it should at least be looked at and explored, by those who make the decisions at Apple and if this does come to fruition, I would at least want to be mentioned by somebody as the person who came up with the idea in the first place. I’d like to get payed for it, but it’s not a high hope on my list at the moment. If I do make money from it, it would certainly be a bonus and I could be remembered as the person who liberated those with face ID. I would like that, but I’m sure the chances of this happening are pretty slim to none. But, if somebody is reading this and they work for Apple I hope that they will at least take a look at the idea and maybe they can develop it further than I have here. I can always hope and dream. Can’t I?