Researchers at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology in Tokyo have developed a new way to identify people: using 360 sensors arranged and embedded into a seat to measure the pressure profile of a person when they sit down. The system has 98% accurate identification rate in the lab. Besides the obvious application of using it in cars, there are ruminations of using it as security identification in office settings. Can you imagine accessing your computer disk encryption using your butt?
The car-seat identifier uses 360 sensors to measure a person's pressure profile, each sensor reading the pressure on a scale of 0 to 256 (update: yeah, I know it's probably 0 to 255. I just reports it as I sees it...literally, in this case). From the figures that I can see, it's a matter of creating a pressure contour line. In other words, a virtual ass groove (all the articles I've read refer to it as measuring the posterior, the rear, etc. Let's not beat around the bush. An ass groove is what it is). I guess using your butt to identify people shouldn't come as a surprise. I mean, I remember thinking how everyone's butt prints were different-looking at the beach. If only I had used that insight to do some research.... Besides scientific confirmation that 98% of rear projections are unique, I've also learned that They say that traditional biometric techniques such as iris scanners and fingerprint readers cause stress to people undergoing identity checks, while the simple act of getting seated carries less psychological baggage. Their other point is that other technologies such as fingerprint scanning can be compromised when sensor surfaces are unclean, or when there is poor lighting as in iris scanning, contaminating results. [physorg.com] I knew about the iris scanning and the fingerprints being unreliable, but I had no idea that it caused "stress." Well, except when they don't work as they're supposed to. I swear, the annoyance and frustration of having to rescan the same finger over and over, at different rates, pressures, etc. can become a little stressful, especially if you're in a hurry.
The car-seat identifier uses 360 sensors to measure a person's pressure profile, each sensor reading the pressure on a scale of 0 to 256 (update: yeah, I know it's probably 0 to 255. I just reports it as I sees it...literally, in this case). From the figures that I can see, it's a matter of creating a pressure contour line. In other words, a virtual ass groove (all the articles I've read refer to it as measuring the posterior, the rear, etc. Let's not beat around the bush. An ass groove is what it is).
I guess using your butt to identify people shouldn't come as a surprise. I mean, I remember thinking how everyone's butt prints were different-looking at the beach. If only I had used that insight to do some research....
Besides scientific confirmation that 98% of rear projections are unique, I've also learned that
They say that traditional biometric techniques such as iris scanners and fingerprint readers cause stress to people undergoing identity checks, while the simple act of getting seated carries less psychological baggage. Their other point is that other technologies such as fingerprint scanning can be compromised when sensor surfaces are unclean, or when there is poor lighting as in iris scanning, contaminating results. [physorg.com]
I knew about the iris scanning and the fingerprints being unreliable, but I had no idea that it caused "stress." Well, except when they don't work as they're supposed to. I swear, the annoyance and frustration of having to rescan the same finger over and over, at different rates, pressures, etc. can become a little stressful, especially if you're in a hurry.
This security solution(?) is fraught with problems which generally isn't tested in a security lab. Just off the top of my head I can think of: Weight changes Musculature changes Armed car-jacking Scamming Lending your car Weight changes. If you go on a diet or gain weight, your weight changes. If you get pregnant, your weight changes. If you decide to leave your wallet behind, your weight distribution changes. Granted, all biometric identification schemes require a bit of fuzziness, but make it too big and the security solution is practically worthless. This is the reason why fingerprints and irises are used as identifiers: not only are they unique, they're generally unchanging. Musculature changes. Let's say you decide to get in shape. Usually, there will be a weight change. But, even if there isn't, your musculature can change as well. Working out your glutes or your back will affect how you sit and how your weight gets distributed. Car-jackings. I'm assuming that the butt identifier is used once at the beginning of one's drive (say, to start the engine). To use it on a continuous basis -- as in spot checks or continuous, real-time feedback while the car is moving -- could result in life-threatening problems. For example, your dog decides to jump in your lap while you're driving, changing your seated contours, cutting off your engine. If this assumption is correct, all a criminal has to do to steal a car is to lie in wait and then threaten the driver with a weapon: sit and start your car, then get out. Steal the victim's cell phone while you're at it (can't call the cops as fast), chuck it out the window a mile down the street (so you can be tracked). Scamming. This is where you've got to really let your creative juices flow. I can already imagine a scenario where enterprising criminals install these pressure sensors on a bunch of body massage chairs. The chairs are installed near the entrances/exits to a mall's parking garage. The use of the chair is offered free of charge. People get their massage; car thieves get their butt profile. A 3-d printer is used to create a mold, the car is stolen while the victim is still shopping. There are kinks, such as having to match driver to car, but nothing insurmountable. Lending your car to other people. Of course, for some, this is not really a problem as it is a solution.... On the other hand, what if you have a heart attack in the parking lot, your passenger is right there, and the building next door is a hospital? Despite what I've written above, I can see how gluteal biometrics could make your life a little bit more convenient. Imagine, for example, your car settings (wheel and seat positioning) adjusting themselves based on who you are, not whose car keys you grabbed in the morning. As for computers...well, this would require that the seat and the computer be linked somehow. If the trend of smaller and lighter computers means anything, I don't really see much of a future for this as a password alternative.
This security solution(?) is fraught with problems which generally isn't tested in a security lab. Just off the top of my head I can think of:
Weight changes. If you go on a diet or gain weight, your weight changes. If you get pregnant, your weight changes. If you decide to leave your wallet behind, your weight distribution changes. Granted, all biometric identification schemes require a bit of fuzziness, but make it too big and the security solution is practically worthless. This is the reason why fingerprints and irises are used as identifiers: not only are they unique, they're generally unchanging.
Musculature changes. Let's say you decide to get in shape. Usually, there will be a weight change. But, even if there isn't, your musculature can change as well. Working out your glutes or your back will affect how you sit and how your weight gets distributed.
Car-jackings. I'm assuming that the butt identifier is used once at the beginning of one's drive (say, to start the engine). To use it on a continuous basis -- as in spot checks or continuous, real-time feedback while the car is moving -- could result in life-threatening problems. For example, your dog decides to jump in your lap while you're driving, changing your seated contours, cutting off your engine.
If this assumption is correct, all a criminal has to do to steal a car is to lie in wait and then threaten the driver with a weapon: sit and start your car, then get out. Steal the victim's cell phone while you're at it (can't call the cops as fast), chuck it out the window a mile down the street (so you can be tracked).
Scamming. This is where you've got to really let your creative juices flow. I can already imagine a scenario where enterprising criminals install these pressure sensors on a bunch of body massage chairs. The chairs are installed near the entrances/exits to a mall's parking garage. The use of the chair is offered free of charge. People get their massage; car thieves get their butt profile. A 3-d printer is used to create a mold, the car is stolen while the victim is still shopping.
There are kinks, such as having to match driver to car, but nothing insurmountable.
Lending your car to other people. Of course, for some, this is not really a problem as it is a solution.... On the other hand, what if you have a heart attack in the parking lot, your passenger is right there, and the building next door is a hospital?
Despite what I've written above, I can see how gluteal biometrics could make your life a little bit more convenient. Imagine, for example, your car settings (wheel and seat positioning) adjusting themselves based on who you are, not whose car keys you grabbed in the morning.
As for computers...well, this would require that the seat and the computer be linked somehow. If the trend of smaller and lighter computers means anything, I don't really see much of a future for this as a password alternative.
Related Articles and Sites:http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/21/car-seat-japan/http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-12-unleash-car-seat-rear.html