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Question

Where/How would you put the Touch ID on a MacBook?

Jan 21, 2014 3:09AM PST

I recently made some design mockups on how the future MacBook Pro would look like and I'm sure Apple wants to put the new Touch ID somewhere to increase the safety, but I stumbled across some issues...I have no idea where to put it without ruining the beautiful simple design and also put it some place you always use so you don't have to put your finger somewhere you normally wouldn't (Thats the way Apple would/will do it for sure) just like the home button on the iPhone 5S, one always has his finger there, it's the perfect place to put it, but where is that place on a MacBook?
I'd be very happy to see some concepts of your ideas.

PS: I'm new here (first post, just signed up 5 min ago) so when I figure out how to upload a picture I'll show you my idea.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Why would said touch ID be visible?
Jan 21, 2014 3:29AM PST

Given all the sensor technology today why would the touch sensor have to show?

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Because
Jan 21, 2014 1:18PM PST

We do know that the sensor (right now) needs a detection ring and a sapphire glass lens with enough room behind it to fit the actual sensor there (which isn't even 1mm if I'm right).

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Answer
There are three places I could think of
Jan 21, 2014 5:45AM PST

1. Underneath the touchpad

Ideally, the whole touchpad, so a user can place a finger anywhere, but it may not be practical from a cost perspective. Alternatively, it could be placed in one of the corners. There would need to be a little mark in that corner indicating that this is where the touch ID is.

2. Underneath a key

An existing key, maybe the command key, could double as a touch ID key. From an implementation point of view, this seems least desirable, because the plastic key constantly moves and the wear and tear on that key would increase. In addition, some people like to put little plastic protectors over the keys, and that would render the key useless unless the protectors had a cut-out for it.

3. Original power button

When looking at the original MacBook Pro, there used to be a power button in the top right corner, which was moved in place of the CD eject key on the Retina version, since that key became available (no more CD drive). It wouldn't be all that bad to add that circle back and make it the touch ID. That way, it's not in the way and still looks nice.

~Sovereign

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Right, but...
Jan 21, 2014 1:29PM PST

Thats exactly the places I thought of (obviously), but there are many issues with these places.

1. Underneath the touchpad seems to be the best place but where? It (for now) has to be a circle with a detection ring around it and it doesn't seem very Apple-like to put it in the corner of said touchpad creating an asymmetrical look and it also would disturb the workflow because I'm sure one is always accidentally going to press or touch it.

2. Underneath a key was my intention after i tried the version with the original power button, but I immediately stubbled across the same issues as you are, plus it would look ridiculous.

3. The original power button seemed the best version because it's round and so on but when does one move his hand/finger in that corner?
That would be like the versions you can see in notebooks from 4 yours ago and that's for sure not what Apple would do.

But good ideas and thanks for the comment.
PS: Can one upload pictures here? I'd like to see some versions and show some I made.

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With regard to option number three
Jan 22, 2014 1:49AM PST

> When does one move his hand/finger in that corner?

When they want to login. It's not like it's across the room, requires you to position the laptop a certain way, open any hidden compartments, or plugin a dongle. The goal here is to provide an alternative to the password login, and placing it there would put it out of the way from your every day interactions, allows you to login faster (than not having the feature at all), looks aesthetically pleasing, and requires no effort on the user's part.

> That would be like the versions you can see in notebooks from 4 yours ago and that's for sure not what Apple would do.

Apple likes to keep things simple. Unless it's on the surface where the hands are most likely to be, any other location would feel less intuitive, therefore the corner is actually the most sensible place. In other words, just because something was there four years ago, doesn't mean it's a bad place today.

That said, what Apple does will be Apple-like. Maybe touch ID will become scan ID, and they'll use the MacBook's camera to scan your eye.

With regard to uploading pictures, the forums currently don't have that capability.

~Sovereign