A new patent application by Apple describes an "integrated sensor for detecting a user's cardiac activity" embedded into an electronic device -- presumably an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The sensor, as Apple describes it, could be completely hidden from view, and the "electrical signals generated by the user can be transmitted from the user's skin through the electronic device housing to the leads."
Then, using these signals, the electronic device can "identify or authenticate the user and perform an operation based on the identity of the user. In some embodiments, the electronic device can determine the user's mood from the cardiac signals and provide data related to the user's mood."
I'm not particularly fond of the idea of my iPhone glowing red, softly uttering the words, "What's the matter? Why are you angry, Stan?" I do, however, have to admit that the idea sounds interesting, especially when you consider what Apple has been able to accomplish by adding some simple sensors, such as the accelerometer, to its smartphone. Check out the patent application here.
[via Unwired View]