Little by little, new biometric technologies are making inroads into the domestic sphere.   

The Wall Street Journal reports that digital fingerprint lock and facial-recognition systems have become a fact of life for some of the wealthiest homeowners and now come standard for many high-end developments. 

The Diller Scofidio + Renfro-, Rockwell Group-, and Ismael Leyva Architects-designed 15 Hudson Yards tower, for example, comes equipped with fingerprint scanner technology, according to the article. 

Meanwhile, 2000 Ocean, a TEN Arquitectos-designed condominium tower in Miami, goes one step further by using a "passive facial-recognition system" in its lobby to alert the concierge that you have arrived. "Once you are in the elevator," the project's developer, Shahab Karmely of KAR Properties, told WSJ, "you have to use facial-recognition or a fob to get to the private landing of your unit." Karmely adds, "It’s a different level of security. You can leave your fob behind, someone can take your purse, but no one can take away your face.”

One reason biometrics are popular with the upscale market is because they are convenient. Many smart home technologies can be directly integrated with biometric software, for example, creating customized user experiences for residents. Dina Abdelrazik, a residential security and smart-home technologies analyst with market-research firm Parks Associates, told WSJ, “Companies are looking to build off this biometric technology to create a home that is personalized: You press the lock with your finger. Knowing that you unlocked the door and are in the house, we are going to implement scenes that you like—how you like the lights or the temperature."

One concern, of course, is hacking. Jennifer King, information scientist and director of consumer privacy at Center for internet and Society, told WSJ, “The question is, where does that data go? If you are a high-net-worth individual you are also vulnerable to your data being hacked or sold. It’s not a big jump to think of someone hacking into your home-security network and using your faceprint to get access to data.”

What's worse, losing your keys or your getting your face stolen?