EarCapAuth: Biometric Method for Earables Using Capacitive Sensing Eartips

TL;DR

EarCapAuth is a biometric authentication system for earables using capacitive sensing embedded in eartips, achieving low error rates and rapid decision-making, with potential for integration into advanced brain sensing devices.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel capacitive sensing-based biometric authentication method for earables, demonstrating high accuracy and fast enrollment, outperforming existing earable biometric techniques.

Findings

Achieves 7.62% EER for authentication

89.95% accuracy for identification

Performance slightly decreases under motion

Abstract

Earphones can give access to sensitive information via voice assistants which demands security methods that prevent unauthorized use. Therefore, we developed EarCapAuth, an authentication mechanism using 48 capacitive electrodes embedded into the soft silicone eartips of two earables. For evaluation, we gathered capactive ear canal measurements from 20 participants in 20 wearing sessions (12 at rest, 8 while walking). A per user classifier trained for authentication achieves an EER of 7.62% and can be tuned to a FAR (False Acceptance Rate) of 1% at FRR (False Rejection Rate) of 16.14%. For identification, EarCapAuth achieves 89.95%. This outperforms some earable biometric principles from related work. Performance under motion slightly decreased to 9.76% EER for authentication and 86.40% accuracy for identification. Enrollment can be performed rapidly with multiple short earpiece insertions and a biometric decision is made every 0.33s. In the future, EarCapAuth could be integrated into high-resolution brain sensing electrode tips.