For those of us with fancy iPhones that recognize our faces, face masks might create some difficulty. But, since wearing a face mask in public spaces seems to be the norm for the foreseeable future (safety first!), Apple has adapted to the times and made it so iPhone users can still easily unlock their phones with its Face ID function, even when they’re wearing a mask.
After all, it’d kind of defeat the purpose of the mask if you had to take it off all the time just to unlock your phone.
According to The Verge, the new Apple software update iOS 13.5 includes a patch so users can easily swipe up to access a passcode field when they’re wearing masks.
iOS 13.5 is out now with a faster way to unlock your iPhone while wearing a face mask https://t.co/yU2iGlXxHW pic.twitter.com/bfNbdjLrP7
— The Verge (@verge) May 20, 2020
In previous iOS versions, you had to wait while your phone tried its best to recognize you a few times before you were given the option to use a passcode. Now, users can easily just swipe up from the bottom and use the passcode option right away, saving a few precious seconds.
What’s most interesting about this, aside from the fact that tech companies are rapidly working to keep up with societal changes that seem to occur every day, is that Apple worked together with Google for another COVID-related update.
The new iOS will include capabilities for contact tracing, making it easier to know when you’ve been potentially exposed to COVID-19, and thus easier for health care professionals and local governments to mitigate the spread of the virus. This means the potential for opening up sooner for states and cities that are still under strict stay-at-home orders.
In the meantime, as an increasingly large number of apparel companies are shifting production to face masks, it’s clear that they’re firmly part of our lives for a while. Apple is wise to recognize that and keep things as convenient as possible.
