Gait monitor detects unauthorized cellphone possession
posted October 13th 2005 4:45PM
While insuring your cellphone may provide a
replacement in the event that it's stolen, nothing is stopping the perps from accessing your phone numbers and making
dates with all of your hot friends. Researchers at the VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland think they may have the
solution to this problem, in the form of a device that attaches to a phone and monitors the user's gait. If the monitor
detects discrepencies between preprogrammed thresholds and the data it is currently receiving, it locks the phone and
demands a password to turn it back on. The greatest advantage to this system is that it works in the background and
does not require active user participation. You're still gonna need to password-protect your data for the time being,
however; there are no immediate plans to begin manufacturing the gait monitor.
[Via textually]
They might want to check on the engine sound for the US version, instead of the gait.
So, what if you fend off your attackers, but are walking with a limp, or crawling (!) ? SOL.
So.. why cant they put a fingerprint reader on the phone like the thinkpads have? These are now available in little USB dongles so I expect they are easy to integrate.
Tech like this just has too many variables: What if I'm getting a piggy-back ride from
someone? Does it detect my walk or theirs? Which one should it detect? What's the difference between giving a piggy back ride and carrying a dead body?
"What if I'm getting a piggy-back ride from
someone?"...lol...ok and where in the western world do people give piggy-back rides to cell phone talking strangers
variables, shmariables... If you're the owner, you can try walking on your hands and it will still work. YOU KNOW THE PASSWORD!
Um, what if I'm drunk?
Wouldn't it be easier to just set your phone to autolock after a short, but reasonable, period of disuse? Unless the perp steals the phone from out of your hands it will already be locked.
RE: #7
A, it's a pain in the ass and b, if you keep your phone hidden when you aren't using it like me you are much more likely to have it stolen when you are using it then you are the rest of the time.
That said, I think a phone with a built in breathalizer would be much more usefull. If only to stop those drunken phone calls.
"Um, what if I'm drunk?"
A technology that eliminates drunk-dialing?!? That's a win for all parties involved.
Next up, a sensor that smells your earwax!
Go biometric.
So...when you're running for your life from the crazed attacker you have to stop and walk calmly to call for help?!?!
uh... what if... uh... you are like... uh... IN A CAR ? ! ? ! ?
Another instance of amazing semi-useless technology.
What if I have it on me while horseback riding?
I see a lot of need for that password...
I agree with the finger print reader idea.
As well as just keeping it passworded and auto-lock after a short time.
Having a "drunk lock" would be a plus so people running on "liquid courage" aren't calling their boss to let them know what they really thought about today's meeting, etc...
I'd like to monitor her gait! ;-)
And when you thought skirts can't get shorter.
Umm... is it just me, or is that photo from Ottawa, I used to work in that building lol.