Man-machine interface for controlling access to electronic devices

An apparatus, comprising:

• a memory configured to store a plurality of biometric templates, each biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates being associated with a security privilege from a plurality of security privileges, each security privilege from the plurality of security privileges being associated with a function from a plurality of functions;
• a touch screen configured to receive an icon selection input at a location within the touch screen, the touch screen configured to display a plurality of icons, each icon from the plurality of icons being associated with a function from the plurality of functions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being operatively coupled to the touch screen, the processor configured to permit access to a function associated with an icon from the plurality of icons when icon selection input is received at the location within the touch screen and when the security privilege for that icon and for a biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates associated with a biometric input permits access to that icon.

A processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to cause a processor to perform a process, the code comprising code to:

• receive an icon selection input from the a user at a location of a touch screen, the location of the touch screen being associated with an icon, the icon being associated with a function;
• determine a security privilege of the user for the function based collectively on the function and a biometric template associated with a biometric input of the user, the biometric template being from a plurality of biometric templates, the security privilege being from a plurality of security privileges;
• and
• permit access to the function based on the security privilege of the user for the function.