Nuke detectors could eventually reside in your cellphone

Just in case fixed sensors all across the country, bomb-sniffing bees, and Bay Area nuke detectors weren't enough to make you rest easy, Homeland Security is cookin' up another safeguard at the expense of privacy. Reportedly, the Department is looking into the idea of "outfitting cellphones with tiny, sensitive detectors that would alert the government and emergency responders to the presence of radiological isotopes, toxic chemicals, and deadly biological agents." Essentially, future mobiles could come pre-loaded with such a device that continuously monitors said chemicals and sends off alerts via GPS if anything goes awry. Of course, officials are expecting "quite a few hurdles" along the way, one of which will be battling the privacy advocates who don't understand that their handset probably already contains the technology for Big Brother to see everywhere they go. No word on when these plans could take effect, nor whether older phones will be retrofitted with the toxic sensors, but we can already envision quite a few false alarms care of the cellphone-totin' chemists in the crowd.

[Via Textually]

[mentalsticks @ May 4th 2007 3:26PM]

One major hurdle could be that anyone cooking up an atomic bomb would leave his phone at home for the day...
fear-mongering, that's what it is

[paloooz @ May 4th 2007 3:29PM]

Radiological alarm!!!

Too bad they didn't have these on the Olympic Carrier.

[angelux @ May 7th 2007 1:33AM]

i see what u did there.

[aeo @ May 4th 2007 3:35PM]

I love my vintage 1950's Timex with the radium dial but I keep getting tackled by Homeland Security for some reason.

[macona @ May 4th 2007 3:37PM]

This isnt such a bad idea really. Its not like they are expecting the phones owner to be building nukes, more like a giant sensor net. Radiation detect would be easy. the chemical detect I cant see.

Of course they would have to turn it off in the perimeter of a Taco Bell as the toxic chemicals and deadly biological agents detector would be continuously going off...

[tekdroid @ May 4th 2007 3:50PM]

every US-related tech story is military-related.

BigBrother should just chill out and play a game on his newly-acquired Nintendo DS.

[tekdroid @ May 4th 2007 3:51PM]

every US-related tech story is military-related.

BigBrother should just chill out and play a game on his newly-acquired Nintendo DS.

[grantman @ May 4th 2007 4:16PM]

Why would older phones be retrofitted? That doesn't make any sense considering that the average lifespan of a cell phone is probably 2 years or less.

[steve @ May 4th 2007 4:35PM]

seems cool to me
only prob is if theres toxic gas in the air....
you basically are screwed
but at least other people dont get screwed over

[Patrick @ May 4th 2007 4:43PM]

"...sends off alerts via GPS..."

Via GPS? Really?

[rushabhjs @ May 7th 2007 10:09AM]

via GPS heheheh... that sounds like my grandpa talking

[Chris @ May 4th 2007 4:50PM]

@Patrick : You beat me to it - that's a recurring misunderstanding around here.

[beanspants @ May 4th 2007 5:50PM]

doesn't every kid already have a krusty-branded gieger counter?

[T.Allen @ May 4th 2007 6:10PM]

I think this is actually a good idea. At first i think our present technology will limit this to only radiation detection, however as our technology evolves maybe the sensors for both chemical and biological threats will get more effordable and more compact, both of which are additional hurdles to the implementation to this.

In light of what I have said radiation detection in itself would help a great deal. It would take a good amount of time for enough of the new cell phones to be distributed at an effective quanity however eventually a virtual net could be spread accross the entire country and eventually other parts of the world.

[Ben @ May 4th 2007 9:55PM]

As a chemist, I'd have the stupid sensors going off everyday. Not that I care, except for the fact that I'll probably get billed for the false alarms. It better come with a "disable" feature.

[obiwan @ May 5th 2007 1:43AM]

Why stop at nukes? Anthrax detectors? Add them. C4 Sensors? Put them in! What about drugs? Crack, Coke, Meth, Nyquil? Add sensors for those! Subversive thought alert? Add it, add it, add it!

[Someone @ May 5th 2007 9:46PM]

I want something like that! That sounds cool!

[Robert Celestine @ Jun 12th 2007 5:03PM]

Great idea! But, I'm looking for the company that has the technology to make this happen. If any ideas please email back. Lets make some money!