11 hours ago, FelisBengalensis said:

So who is up for retinal scans then........

 

I'm surprised we haven't seen fingerprint scanning introduced. It's ubiquitous in many other areas and would seem to be a low cost, proven, solution to some of the current problems we face.

You read "I am Pilgrim"?

11 hours ago, CheshireBumpkin said:

 

I'm surprised we haven't seen fingerprint scanning introduced. It's ubiquitous in many other areas and would seem to be a low cost, proven, solution to some of the current problems we face.

 

I once read an article about a car that had a fingerprint scanner on the door. Was quite flakey in practice due to dirt and when raining. This was quite a while ago, maybe the reader technology has moved on so that dirt is less of an issue? (I’ve never had a fingerprint scanning smartphone.)

2 hours ago, IJWS15 said:

You read "I am Pilgrim"?

 

No, but I might do now you've mentioned it - looks interesting!

 

56 minutes ago, Ivan8192 said:

 

I once read an article about a car that had a fingerprint scanner on the door. Was quite flakey in practice due to dirt and when raining. This was quite a while ago, maybe the reader technology has moved on so that dirt is less of an issue? (I’ve never had a fingerprint scanning smartphone.)

 

I can understand the dirt thing being an issue, but water is less of a problem now. To be honest, I was thinking more of a system where the current KESSY-type technology is used to physically open the doors, but the engine can't be started until your fingerprint is registered using a reader on the steering wheel for example. Having said that, I can't imagine road grime couldn't be overcome on an external fingerprint reader with current technology.

1 hour ago, CheshireBumpkin said:

To be honest, I was thinking more of a system where the current KESSY-type technology is used to physically open the doors, but the engine can't be started until your fingerprint is registered using a reader on the steering wheel for example.

 

So, if the car needs to be moved by servicing staff, family, friends, valleting, car parking staff etc.?

 

Fingerprint readers can be fooled using lifted prints.

 

 

2 minutes ago, xman said:

 

So, if the car needs to be moved by servicing staff, family, friends, valleting, car parking staff etc.?

 

Fingerprint readers can be fooled using lifted prints.

 

 

 

If we’d paid BMW money, we might have got a “valet” key 

11 hours ago, xman said:

 

So, if the car needs to be moved by servicing staff, family, friends, valleting, car parking staff etc.?

 

Fingerprint readers can be fooled using lifted prints.

 

 

 

There would always need to be a  back-up available like a traditional key or one-time code that could be used in the circumstances like you describe.

 

Biometrics aren't insurmountable of course - nothing is, and they probably never will be. It's about balancing risk and convenience like many things nowadays. Even the relatively cheap and simple fingerprint scanners on flagship phones are pretty secure now, not like when they were first introduced, and enterprise standard biometrics are virtually unbreakable without serious kit that would be out of reach of all but the largest crime gangs. Technology moves very quickly, particularly in security, and all it would take would be a significant order from a major manufacturer like VWAG to bring the price for an enterprise standard system down to viable levels.

 

Firstly sorry for your loss Monoab, hope it all get sorted without too much hassle for you.

Surely the answer to this issue is simple.

Manufacturer ensures brakes applied, hazards turned on and engine switches off when key not detected.

Obviously building in a bypass to this system if the car has travelled more than 500 metres or so with key detected since started up. We wouldn't want that happening at 70mph on a motorway  !

1 hour ago, Mr Grump said:

Obviously building in a bypass to this system if the car has travelled more than 500 metres or so with key detected since started up. We wouldn't want that happening at 70mph on a motorway  !

 

Perhaps a system where something is inserted into a slot, probably would have to be made of something durable, say metal, and have some kind of unique kind of coding, which could allow it to be recognised. Some kind of mechanical latch for this could be devised, obviously with an electrical switch as well..

 

Wait a minute.....

1 hour ago, xman said:

 

Perhaps a system where something is inserted into a slot, probably would have to be made of something durable, say metal, and have some kind of unique kind of coding, which could allow it to be recognised. Some kind of mechanical latch for this could be devised, obviously with an electrical switch as well..

 

Wait a minute.....

It'll never catch on.  I'm out. 

Surely the next time someone at a Skoda service center tries to update the service record the VIN will be flagged?