Apple may add tiny lasers to the iPhone and Apple Watch, which could have major implications for smartphone development and overall security.

According to a recent patent search, Apple is experimenting with horizontal cavity surface-emitting lasers (HCSELs). They sound complicated (and they are), but the technology could potentially allow for an array of HCSELs underneath the display to monitor biometrics and other environmental factors. There are plenty of other applications for HCSELs, and the potential for developers to explore the technology could result in a wave of new features coming to your iPhone and Apple Watch.

"More types of input options and now world-reading options give those developers even more tools," Dmitri Williams, a professor at USC Annenberg, told Lifewire in an email. "So, whatever Apple has in mind for applications is one thing, but the really interesting things will probably come from the massive distributed intelligence that exists among developers."

So what does Apple have planned for these lasers? That’s still uncertain. What’s filed in a patent doesn’t always come to fruition, and they’re often used as a catch-all to ensure every plausible function is legally covered. In this patent, Apple lays out big potential plans for improved biometrics and security features.