In the not too distant past, the only place we could see biometric data was when it was displayed on the big screen. Gadgets of this type were limited to huge sci-fi movies with larger than life James Bondesque characters using such advanced technology to get into high security locations. Fingerprint access, Iris access, and many other forms of biometrics were nothing short of magical devices that one couldn’t think of encountering in the usual walks of life.

The current story of course is very different, biometrics of all kinds are found everywhere, be it in residential or commercial places. Biometric verification is the most widely used form of security system, as it is much more secure and reliable than any other system. They uniquely identify and distinguish the biological traits of an individual to correctly recognize them and authenticate or restrict access depending on whether or not the traits match. Those unique traits can range from the fingerprint pattern to the retina, but there are some very unique biometric authentication methods that are in development. Below is a list of some unusual biometric authentication methods:

Ear: Surprise! Surprise! Many of you would not know that the shape of your ear is as distinctive as your fingerprint. The two ears that each individual has are also different from each other. This unique method of identification is used by Startup Descartes Biometrics who have created an app that identifies users based on how they press their phones against their ear. The technology is still in development stages.

Heart: Yes, you read correctly. There is a device that uses your heartbeat to recognize you. The Nymi is a wristband in development that takes an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, which measures the electrical signal generated by your heart’s activity. Then, based on this reading, he authenticates her identity. Nymi can be used to unlock other devices in use, such as smartphones or laptops.

Butt: We’re not making this up! Your butt has more uses than you’d like to know about. A team of researchers has come up with unique technology for a prototype car that can identify the driver by reading the pattern in which he sits. This ensures that only you can drive the car and that everything on the car, including the mirrors, is adjusted to your liking.