Wearable bracelet to use heartbeat as computer password

TORONTO, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A Canadian start-up calls its wearable bracelet the future of biometric password protection, using your own unique cardiac rhythm.

Bionym, in Ontario, says its Nymi bracelet will monitor a person's cardiac rhythm as a unique signature to constantly authenticate their identity as it wirelessly interacts with devices like smartphones and tablets, CNET reported Tuesday.

Once put on, the authentication remains working until the bracelet it removed, Bionym says; if another person tries to use it, it will detect the different rhythm and lock that person out.

In addition to an electrocardiogram sensor, the company said, it also includes a proximity sensor and motion detector allowing for some basic gesture controls.

The bracelet is still in the prototype stage, and Bionym is encouraging app developers to get involved.

The first batch of Nymi devices will work with an app available for Android, iOS, Macs, and Windows machines, CNET said.

Shipping of the $99 bracelet is scheduled for early spring of 2014.