 |
The Wisdom Door Knows You
The Wisdom Door is a prototype created by students at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. We're all familiar with key-card doors and other devices that require a special password. The Wisdom Door, however, uses specific biometric information to decide who enters.
(Wisdom door prototype in lab)
This sensor-intensive door doesn't make you stop and identify yourself. Nine different sensors work together to find enough information for identification.
At the top of the door, an ultrasonic sensor beams a signal downward. Bouncing off the top of the head, it comes back, and provides the height of the person.
Four infrared sensors mounted in the door jambs provide a measurement of girth (side-to-side and front-to-back). When a person walks through, the beams are broken at specific points that can be determined. The same sensors find the delay involved in first encountering the infrared sensor beams, and then passing through the door.
Finally, four load sensors in a panel in the floor determine weight. Over time, the system can build up a database of characteristics that identify individuals.
Obviously, this prototype has limits; what if a woman wears high heels, or if a guy wears an especially bulky coat.
Science fiction writer Philip K. Dick had a better idea. In his 1965 story The Zap Gun, one of his characters improves security with a cephalic pattern door:
The doors of Mr. Lars, Incorporated, shut, tuned as they were to his own cephalic pattern.
(Read more about Dick's cephalic pattern door)
The "cephalic pattern" refers to the unique patterns revealed in the electrical signals of a person's brain. Dick was fascinated by this idea; see also his Cephalochromoscope (Cephscope), a fun consumer device.
Read more about smart door that recognizes people.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/16/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Index of related articles:
Biometric security overview
Biometrics Glossary
Characteristics of successful biometric identification methods
Biometric identification systems
Biometric technology on the leading edge
Biometric identification - advantages
Biometric security and business ethics
Biometric authentication: what method works best?
Iris Recognition
Iris Scan
Related News Stories - (" Engineering ")
Computational Wood: Grow Circuits In Living Trees
Is computational wood possible? The harvesting of circuits? Or even Avatar-style living memory?
Wasabi Smoke Alarm Now Available
Oh, this will get you out of bed all right.
Implantable Energy-Harvesting Rubber Sheets
This remarkable material can let us take energy from movements we make anyway. Take a deep breath, and power up that cell phone!
Bose Ride System Smooths Your Ride
Yes, you'll ride the spaceways - uh, roads - in much greater comfort with a highly technological seat.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Current News
Put MercuryHouseOne Anywhere
Perhaps looking out through the spray of Victoria Falls.
Computational Wood: Grow Circuits In Living Trees
Just tap into the information tree.
SIRI Virtual Assistant Like Pohl's Joymaker
Man Forrester! Your joymaker is ready.
Liquid Glass Universal Spray-On Protectant
Also used to protect galactic way stations.
WIND Wearable Robot Controller
Robot wirelessly sense, robot do.
Gesture Cube Touch-Free Input
Just think of the gestures you'll use!
IMPASS Robot 'Smart Wheel' Video
I love it when good robot research comes together.
Predator, Prey Robots Evolve
Humanity must make a choice about robot evolution.
Mind-Control Lights At Vancouver Olympics
Bringing The Game to the Olympic Games.
PALRO Companion Robot
Who's your favorite companion robot?
Wasabi Smoke Alarm Now Available
It's an odalarm!
Spyder Olympic GS Suit With d3o
An impact suit made with a shear thickening material.
First Transistor That Mimics Brain Synapse
The Nexus Six phone will need a Nexus-6 brain.
Legged Squad Support System Monster BigDog Robot
A robotic pack mule for soldiers.
Implantable Energy-Harvesting Rubber Sheets
Take a deep breath, and power up that cell phone!
Bose Ride System Smooths Your Ride
Ride the spaceways - uh, roads - in comfort.
