Apple may be keeping the features of the much anticipated iPhone 5 under wraps, but one new feature has been leaked through a patent made by Apple for facial recognition.
"There's two reasons for Apple not telling people what's in the iPhone 5," said Mac Buck, editor of App World! online magazine. "Either they don't know, or they are trying to build up anticipation."
The one thing that we do know is that facial recognition is incorporated into the iPhone 5, and it will recognise gestures. This means that the phone can be controlled by facial reactions, and even extend the battery life of the phone.
"Lets face it," said Buck. "When I'm not looking at my phone, why have the screen on? If the phone can spot when I'm blinking or looking up to make sure I don't run into the back of a truck, then if the screen is switched off until I open my eyes again, or look back down because the trucks still a long way off, that's going to extend the battery life, isn't it?"
It will be difficult for consumers to spot the iPhone switching off each time they blink, but with it anticipated that, on average, people have their eyes shut because of blinking for a total of two minutes each day, this is vital juice for the battery.
"That's the most exciting use for facial recognition," said Buck. "However, will the phone also be able to recognise distaste and go straight to voice mail or not connect a call at all with a shake of the head? Both would be great improvements for any phone."
Whether the iPhone 5 will make further use of facial gestures is one of the many secrets Apple are keeping about their new phone. Like the rest of the world, Mac Buck is watching and waiting.
"Whatever they produce," he said. "It'll be fantastic."
