You’ve heard of Touch ID and Face ID, but is Ear ID next? Researchers have described a new technology that will let you use AirPods or similar buds to prove who you are and unlock your gadgets – and it’s actually your heartbeat they’re detecting

Chinese researchers have developed ‘AccLock’
This uses your heartbeat to verify your identity
All it needs are earphones with accelerometers

Researchers from several universities in China have developed a technology they call AccLock, and it’s basically Ear ID. It’s a way to verify your identity using your heartbeat as detected by your earbuds — even if your buds don’t have the kind of built-in heart rate sensors you get in the AirPods Pro 3.

The idea is that your earbuds will be able to recognize your unique heartbeat, verify that you’re you, and unlock access to things like your PC or phone, or maybe even a smart door lock.

According to the paper, earbuds were chosen because they “remain closely connected to the wearer during daily use,” so if you’re the kind of person who constantly wears your AirPods when you’re on the go, you’ve inspired this choice.

Open heart

A diagram of a person wearing earphones approaching a door. Their heart is highlighted as being connected to the earphones, and a sign on the door indicates that their heartbeat is a match, enabling them to 'pass' the door

A diagram provided by the researchers involving a rather high-tech door (Image credit: arxiv.org)

Instead of a dedicated heart rate sensor, the tool simply uses a motion-sensing accelerometer, which plenty of earphones already pack.

An accelerometer is used to measure things like acceleration, vibration and orientation. In earphones, they can be used for different tools: gesture controls, head tracking or spatial audio, depending on the knob.

Some low-end earphones may miss them, but in general it is a common component. So in theory, AccLock could work on many earbuds by using the accelerometer to recognize your heartbeat.

Again, this is all hypothetical, but sometimes these studies can reflect what companies are actually considering. For example, new research we reported on regarding AirPods with cameras is matched by some reports suggesting that Apple is indeed considering adding this technology to future AirPods.