Spectacles company Warby Parker recently updated its mobile app to include a novel implementation of Apple's face recognition technology exclusive to the iPhone X.

The glasses app uses the smartphone's front-facing TrueDepth camera to map the user's face and create an ideal fit for a new set of frames.

glasses

Apple's Face ID authentication works by projecting 30,000 dots on the surface of a person's face, accurately mapping its curvature and unique features.

The camera's sensors also capture the data in three dimensions, and it's this technology in particular that the glasses app uses to recommend to the user a series of frames that it thinks will fit their facial structure.

The only failing of the app is that it doesn't (yet) place the spectacles on the user's face, Snapchat-style, to let the customer see what they look like wearing them.

Apple's ARKit augmented reality framework would seem to be the obvious solution to this lack. We've reached out to Warby Parker to ask if they have any plans to make use of it, and will update this article if we hear back.

(Via Mashable.)

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

keysofanxiety Avatar
73 months ago
This is seriously revolutionary stuff when considering the long game. In five years' time this sort of example will be second nature and we'll never know how we did without it. That's what Apple have fundamentally achieved over the years; great technology that has practical use in real life.

Eventually the 'technology' aspect fades away, becoming part of the every day and ultimately indispensable.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Maetzle Avatar
73 months ago
Whilst this is really cool I have to wonder. I'm not a conspiracy theorist and I'm not paranoid, I don't have any trust issues when it comes to using FaceID or TouchID data being sent off to whomever by Apple, but when it comes to 3rd party apps I'm not so sure. Maybe someone can shed some light on this for me. Does the app send the data it mapped to the company? Is this mapping any different from what FaceID does, maybe less accurate?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DJM1740 Avatar
73 months ago
This seems to contradict what Apple told a Senate committee back in October, when questioned about the accessibility of facial scans and privacy:

“Apple's response to Franken largely restates information available on Apple's website ('https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208108') about how Face ID works - such as the fact that "faceprints" are not collected by Apple, that third-party developers cannot collect face data from developers, and how the technology works. “. (From Business Insider)

Seems as though third parties can in fact collect face data. Granted It’s with the user’s consent to use the app, but it’s still contrary to what Apple said before.

Am I misunderstanding something here?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ntombi Avatar
73 months ago
This is exactly the sort of thing I’m excited about moving forward.

Warby Parker is already leading the pack in terms of virtual fittings, I can’t wait to see what they do next.

I’ve worn glasses or contacts since I was five (in 1979), and I have not-so-fond memories of trying to see what I looked like with empty frames, yet being so near-sighted that my face had to be within inches of the mirror. Trying on new frames while wearing contacts felt miraculous by the time I got to high school, this is next level stuff.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bollman Avatar
73 months ago
Exactly what does the EULA state for that app? What can they do with the face data they've collected? I'm pretty certain most people don't read the EULA so...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdusoccer12 Avatar
73 months ago
This seems to contradict what Apple told a Senate committee back in October, when questioned about the accessibility of facial scans and privacy:

“Apple's response to Franken largely restates information available on Apple's website ('https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208108') about how Face ID works - such as the fact that "faceprints" are not collected by Apple, that third-party developers cannot collect face data from developers, and how the technology works. “. (From Business Insider)

Seems as though third parties can in fact collect face data. Granted It’s with the user’s consent to use the app, but it’s still contrary to what Apple said before.

Am I misunderstanding something here?
As far as I can determine developers have access to true depth information from the camera system, which is different than Face ID data. Apple provides them with the ability to access like 50 or so measurements from the true depth camera system. But they don't have access to any of the Face ID data or the algorithm that creates and checks for Face ID.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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