[kuschku]

A non-conclusive list of places where this will be an issue:

China, Japan, S.E.A.: Surgical masks against smog, or to avoid spreading germs.

Northern Europe, Canada, Northern US: Winter clothing that covers the face to avoid the cold temperatures

Middle East: Religious clothing for women hiding their faces.

Anywhere with hot summers: Sunglasses covering the entire eyes, making it impossible to see if you’re looking at the screen (which is a requirement for FaceID unlock).

[gist]

> China, Japan, S.E.A.: Surgical masks against smog, or to avoid spreading germs. Northern Europe, Canada, Northern US: Winter clothing that covers the face to avoid the cold temperatures

I am thinking that there will be the ability to program recognition with clothing that you own (color, texture) if you want to accept the risk. For most people I don't think they will be worried about something that has some of the same facial features stealing their phone. After all not everything will be blocked. And for that matter you can't do touch ID with gloves on, right?

> Middle East: Religious clothing for women hiding their faces.

Nothing to prevent a third party from offering a device which also allows touch id or simply using the alternate unlock. After all I don't think the amount of women hiding their faces in middle east countries means that the rest of us can't have this feature. How much business will they lose? In the end this is a business decision not a social one.

> Sunglasses covering the entire eyes, making it impossible to see if you’re looking at the screen (which is a requirement for FaceID unlock).

Once again will probably be able to allow use of sunglasses that you own with facial features that you have. Sure chance that someone could spoof you but for most of us not really a big threat. And someone needs the phone to do so and needs to know what you have programmed in as far as your clothing.

[zchrykng]

I don't think anyone is arguing that Face ID shouldn't have been created, just that it shouldn't be the only option.

[M4v3R]

> Anywhere with hot summers: Sunglasses covering the entire eyes, making it impossible to see if you’re looking at the screen (which is a requirement for FaceID unlock).

I wonder if the IR sensor can actually see through the sunglasses?

[_ph_]

Might vary with the make of the sunglasses, but I took an IR photo of a colleague wearing sunglasses, and on the photo the glasses were completely transparent. So the FaceID has a good chance to work with sunglasses.

[kuschku]

That’s a bad sign, usually good sunglasses also block IR and UV light, as the eye only closes the iris based on visible light, but can still be damaged by too much exposure in IR or UV bands.

[geoelectric]

What are some examples of sunglasses that block IR? When I looked around earlier (curious about the same question) it didn't seem to be a standard feature at all.

[umeshunni]

So, basically it works only in Northern California.