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
83 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
83 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
83 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
83 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
83 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
83 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)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple to Launch New iPad Pro and iPad Air Models in May

Thursday March 28, 2024 11:07 am PDT by
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

Apple Releases Revised Versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Updated Build Number

Wednesday March 27, 2024 5:59 am PDT by
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS...
applephilschiller

Apple's Phil Schiller Works 80 Hours a Week Overseeing App Store

Wednesday March 27, 2024 2:03 pm PDT by
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to "Apple Fellow" in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working...