I saw a commercial today which has been the advent of another idea. It is an old commercial but no matter the idea is recent.
The useage of the fingerprint scanner to give a "passcode" "password" to the laptop instead of having to type it in. Has the original actor to the series the "Million Dollar Man" I do believe in it. Anyways, it is my thought that this should immediately be developed for the auto industry so that you can walk up to your car and place your hand on the door handle and it reads the print(s?) and opens.
I have also thought about a version that is akin to a credit card sized item that is place in the wallet. As you approach the vehicle you enter into a zone inwhich the vehicle "recognizes" your card and unlocks (3 feet from car). Since the car already knows you, no key needed just hit an "engine start key." [[EDIT: Engine start key? HECK NO! Let the darn driver seat have a pressure sensor and cut the engine on when you sit down. One less thing to do.]] This is already in some luxury brand vehicles if I am not mistaken, should be provided by some company as an after-market device (for automatics only of course).
However, let me refocus here-in. If a laptop can have a fingerprint scan then a car door should have it. HECK, this gives me another idea, instead of a key let me have a finger print scanner on my front door, I HATE FUMBLING WITH KEYS.
(Consider this two ideas in one, car fingerprint reader to unlock doors AND for home frontdoor.) EDIT: links:
http://www.bioenabletech.com/
http://www.germancarfans.com/ Small excerpt: Drivers of the new A8 now only need to reach for their car key from time to time: "advanced key" is the name of an optional system that acts as an electronic access and authorisation system.
The key – which can remain in the driver's pocket – incorporates an electronic pulse generator whose signal is registered and checked by a proximity sensor in the door. If the signal is accepted, the doors are unlocked as soon as the driver operates the button on the door handle.
The central locking can be activated and deactivated at any door of the vehicle. All the driver has to do is carry the key on his or her person within a range of about 1.5 metres from the car and to actuate the door handle. The passenger can also be the first to open the door. It is possible to select via MMI whether the central locking should only release the manually actuated doors or unlock all of them.-- McGyver, Jun 05 2005 So you aren't a fan of keys I take it? How would you then lock said car?-- hidden truths, Jun 05 2005 This is very very baked. As you've already said, some of this technology is already in place in high end cars. The rest can already be done, but is just not economically viable at present.
The front door fingerprint lock is NOT YOUR IDEA. Anyone seen Back to the Future lately?
Fish bone for lack of originality or background research.-- sven3012, Jun 05 2005 random, halfbakery