We have Windows 11 in our soup, but that’s what happens when Microsoft announces a new major version of its operating system for PCs, something that, almost as if it were a new generation of consoles, only happens every few years.
Of the many things that have been published in the last few days alone about Windows 11, perhaps one of the topics that have generated the most discussion is the system requirements, which, if strictly enforced, would leave out -unless they renew their hardware- a large number of users. However, not everything is yet confirmed as it should be, and it does not seem that what is on paper will be true.
Be that as it may if the obligation to have a TPM 2.0 chip -again, without confirming whether it will be optional or not- has got under your skin, here is a new consideration to consider: Windows 11 will only work on laptops with a front webcam from 2023 onwards. Why does it matter, when in practice all laptops include webcams from the factory, at least on the front? Because of the requirement itself, of course.
According to Microsoft, “all devices (except desktop PCs) will be required to have a front-facing webcam. This condition will take effect from January 1, 2023, and should force manufacturers to include a webcam on devices such as laptops or tablets.”
The webcam will have to have its own requirements, such as HD resolution (1280×720) or a 1:1 aspect ratio, as well as support for white balance and automatic exposure functions. All of these requirements are reminiscent of a sort of minimum requirements to enable a biometric camera -it would not be such, but just so you understand- for authentication through facial recognition to log in or unlock the screen.
The information published includes other rules regarding the activation of the camera, which may be disabled, but must also be activated when required. So the doubt that generates all this nonsense is obvious: is Microsoft going to force to initiate a session in Windows 11 by means of facial recognition? Is this really going to be an insurmountable requirement to be able to use Windows 11? This is the doubt expressed by some fearful of privacy on the Internet?
Although it could also be a warning to navigators, in view of the fact that even though it is an exception, there are recent laptops, especially gaming laptops, that do not have a camera of the type required. Can you imagine having bought a gaming machine one or two years ago and not being able to work with Windows 11? We’ll have to see.
