Facial recognition devices are always connected to computers. I mean, they have to be right? So a face is recognized and the computer does something. Whether that action is to save a picture of the face, unlock a computer, or make a pizza is hardly relevant. This has been going on for decades.
"Oooh look how innovative Apple is. They are taking facial recognition in a completely unique and unexpected direction" is total BS. They want to use facial recognition to do the EXACT kind of things it's always done. Probably more stylishly though.
US patent law has become a sad joke that companies like RAMBUS and Apple are trying to exploit.
No one is saying Apple is doing something innovative, nor are they reinventing the wheel, nor are they saving children. I'm not sure where that notion came from.
The thing is that... facial recognition and face unlock are two different things.
The wheel has always existed. But you can't say the wheel is the same as a car... nor can you say that the car is the very same as a truck.
Let's just say Apple is not doing anything new. They are simply patenting something that no one has patented before. In this case, it's the
"apply for a patent" action that they did first, not the
"invent" action.
I hope that's clear now?