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Smart Holograms Used as Biosensors

Roland Piquepaille writes "In this short article, eWEEK writes that the next generation of biosensors will consist of small holograms costing only fractions of a cent. Prototypes developed by a U.K. company, aptly named Smart Holograms, include contact lenses that monitor glucose levels or thin badges that detect alcohol levels. Not only these holograms used as sensors will be cheap to produce, they'll also require less training for nurses or police officers. This is because these holograms can be designed to show results graphically, such as morphing into an image of a green car if someone subjected to breath analysis is sober and can drive. Read this overview for other details and an illustration showing how to create a sensor hologram."

8 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah, just what we need... by bjwest · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "they'll also require less training for nurses or police officers."

    Less training for those that need more as it is.

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  2. EMH by inertia187 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Please state the nature of the medical emergency."

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    A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
  3. Rather than reading Roland's poor description by nuntius · · Score: 4, Informative

    Get the pictures and facts straight from the source.
    http://www.smartholograms.com/site/sections/techno logy/creating_sensors.htm

  4. This kind of stuff is dangerous by yog · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Humans are the best biosensors yet made, with dogs perhaps a close second. Intelligent, intuitive, experienced humans can scan someone's face, question them, trip them up in inconsistent statements, and otherwise sniff out intruders and frauds. Dogs can literally smell or otherwise somehow sense nervousness in people and make excellent guards. They ID people by scent and they don't forget scents quickly.

    If we focussed on human intelligence we would perhaps be able to avert more catastrophes, such as the series of missteps that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to get on board their planes despite some rather suspicious behavior.

    Computers are always going to be only as good as the programs that control them, and there are always going to be workarounds for people clever enough to find them. Insiders will create back doors in biosensor systems, or they will sell passwords to outsiders. A team of Japanese researchers already cracked a fingerprint biosensor a couple of years ago, so where's the security in using one? I would imagine even a DNA sample can be faked; just get someone's DNA, replicate it in a test tube using E. coli, and coat your hands with it. Standard laboratory biology.

    No one can steal your identity at the low-tech neighborhood store where you shop once a week and the clerks know you (if only this were always the case). The humans at the store will look at your credit card, then at the face that does not match yours, and they'll go in the back and call the police. A machine will simply pass the buck, leaving the owner to dispute the theft with the credit card company.

    The Israelis for decades have relied on human intelligence and it has stood them in good stead, with zero airline hijackings. They have very smart people who look at everyone before they board. We in the U.S. are just beginning to wake up to this level of need and we have a lot to learn.

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    1. Re:This kind of stuff is dangerous by Solder+Fumes · · Score: 4, Interesting

      These aren't computers, they're basically a glorified version of litmus paper. A chemical response changes the size of molecules, which in these prototypes causes the sensor itself to become the display. You're not going to create a backdoor unless you actually make a door out of this stuff.

  5. Re:Green Screen by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    I want a hologram that shows me whether I have bad breath

    That's called a "girlfriend" and the display consists of her face pulling back with a funny face when you kiss her.

    and another that shows my blood-alcohol content - privately

    The "girlfriend" device above can detect that too. You may not count upon the privacy of the display though...

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  6. Roland by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Make sure you don't click on any of the links in the story. It was submitted by Roland, and by doing so you would just be contributing to his ad revenue and encouraging him to keep posting on Slashdot.

    God I wish we could have an option to not display Roland stories.

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  7. Re:NOW HEAR THIS by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 4, Interesting
    What I want to know is why Slashdot editors accept Roland's site for the story, yet ignore links to the original site which must undoubtably get submitted as well. What is the incentive for them?

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