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I can't help but think that there's a whole segment of HN readers who are thinking as single men. In the context of a family with kids this is a very different

I can't help but think that there's a whole segment of HN readers who are thinking as single men. In the context of a family with kids this is a very different thing. My kids have access to my phone and my wife's --which are not locked in any way. I have access to my kid's iphones, ipods and ipads. Having devices locked to fingerprints in any way would be a nightmare. If you have really young kids, its a logistical mess. I can see it working just fine from the context of a single and otherwise unattached individual. That'd be OK. ...until you have an accident and someone needs to figure out who to contact...but they can't get into your phone. ...or, until you lose your phone and whoever finds it actually wants to figure out who you are in order to return it. ...or any number of other scenarios where you actually want other people to access the device. There's also the angle of trust. What's your significant other going to think when he/she can't get into your phone without your fingerprint? Again, I can see it being a really convenient tool for some people. Not sure it is a universally useful thing.

lucozade 13y ago
Funny, I have teen/pre-teen children and my reaction is the exact opposite. I, mostly unsuccessfully, ban the children from having passcodes on their devices so that I can do backups, act as communal spy for various parents etc. They, on the other hand, mostly add passcodes (then change them regularly) so that their siblings don't go onto their phones and change the wallpaper to amusing photos, delete Minecraft etc. Having Touch ID whereby only they, me and their mother can access their devices is manna. And it makes confiscation substantially more meaningful, assuming you can switch individual prints on and off. I can't wait, although, as I'm too cheap to ever buy them the latest gear, it'll be a couple of years before this particular paradise occurs.
- robomartin 13y ago
  Perhaps I am missing something. Are you saying TouchID aalows you to register multiple fingerprints for access to a device? With regards to the kids ignoring your requirement to not have passcodes. Well, what can I say, my kids do as i say, perhaps a different approach is in order? For example, my kids know they should not play any computer games during the week. On Saturdays they can play as much as they want. During the week it's academics, mindstorms and good old-fashion go outside and get dirty play. I've never had to enforce the rule. In general terms i think kids respond well to rules and schedules so long as these things are fairly and consistently applied.

lucozade 13y ago

Funny, I have teen/pre-teen children and my reaction is the exact opposite. I, mostly unsuccessfully, ban the children from having passcodes on their devices so that I can do backups, act as communal spy for various parents etc. They, on the other hand, mostly add passcodes (then change them regularly) so that their siblings don't go onto their phones and change the wallpaper to amusing photos, delete Minecraft etc. Having Touch ID whereby only they, me and their mother can access their devices is manna. And it makes confiscation substantially more meaningful, assuming you can switch individual prints on and off. I can't wait, although, as I'm too cheap to ever buy them the latest gear, it'll be a couple of years before this particular paradise occurs.

robomartin 13y ago
Perhaps I am missing something. Are you saying TouchID aalows you to register multiple fingerprints for access to a device? With regards to the kids ignoring your requirement to not have passcodes. Well, what can I say, my kids do as i say, perhaps a different approach is in order? For example, my kids know they should not play any computer games during the week. On Saturdays they can play as much as they want. During the week it's academics, mindstorms and good old-fashion go outside and get dirty play. I've never had to enforce the rule. In general terms i think kids respond well to rules and schedules so long as these things are fairly and consistently applied.