9 of the craziest things that will replace your phone's password

Imagine never having to click on a "forgot password" link again. 

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Researchers and companies all over the globe are working on new gadgets and technology that can save you from the headache of memorizing (and inevitably forgetting) passwords. 

The iPhone's fingerprint scanner provided a taste of the password-free life, but it's only the beginning....

Trader head in hands
Reuters
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Selfies

selfie
Flickr/Henry Hemming

This might be the password of choice for the Facebook generation. Companies like Amazon and Mastercard are already considering technology that would ask users to snap pictures of their faces on a smartphone before making a transaction. Mastercard's technology would require a user to blink before their face is scanned as a safeguard to prevent hackers from simply placing a picture of someone else in front of the camera.

Edible pills

pills
Flickr/Kiran Foster

Swallowing pills might be one of the few things more annoying that memorizing passwords. But some researchers think it's the future. After mixing with stomach acids the pill would emit a unique, low power signal that connects with your PC. Google VP of Advanced Technology and Projects Regina Dugan described such a system a few years ago. According to Dugan, a person could safely ingest 30 pills every day for the rest of their lives. 

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Your gait

Golf walk
Photo by Marco Garcia/Getty Images

Going for a stroll might not sound like the most convenient way to log on to your computer, but the way you walk has some unique traits that could serve as a mean of authentication. A wearable device, like a bracelet or anklet, could record your most recent physical activity and use that information as a password the next time you need to log on.

Your ear cavity

Ears
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Has anyone ever told you your ear canal is one of a kind? Special earbuds, being developed by NEC, bounce a sound into your ear's cavity and use the reverberations as a signature to identify you. NEC hopes to have these available within a few years.

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Your backside

Steve Case
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

The shape and contours of your posterior are so special that some researchers in Japan have explored whether a special seat mat could be used to identify you. The experimental mat, which is packed with special sensors that measure pressure distribution, could for example be integrated into cars, to prevent unauthorized sitters from driving off with the vehicle.

Tattoos

tattoo
Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Google's Regina Dugan showed off a sticker-like wearable tattoo on her arm a few years ago that she said could be used to unlock a phone or computer. The tattoo, which was only an experimental prototype, was made of flexible circuits and sensors, and could be worn for up to a week, she explained. No word on whether you can get the password tattoo in the design of a fire-breathing dragon.

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Your Jewelry:

fitbit
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Fitbit

Wearable gadgets like the Fitbit and Apple Watch can already track your sleep and the steps you take. The next step is to track the pattern of your pulse or heart rate, as the Nymi band does, and use that information to identify you.

Your voice

Opera
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Microsof

Nothing is easier than saying a few words, and even the best impersonator can't perfectly mimic another person's voice. That's why one big bank in Britain recently set up technology to identify customers on the phone or online by the sound of their voice. And yes, the system will still work if you have a cold.

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Implants

surgeon
Lefteris Pitarakis - WPA Pool/Getty Images

This one is only for hardcore security geeks. Believe it or not, some people have already experimented with embedding a small RFID chip under their skin. The chip emits a radio signal that can theoretically be used to do everything from unlocking the door to an office and starting a car, to logging on to email.

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