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MIT Researches Map Cell Phone Usage

Posted by Zonk on from the take-a-look-at-hookup-hill dept.

stlhawkeye writes "MIT researchers with the Mobile Landscape Projects have mapped a city based on cell phone usage. The article includes a map of Graz, Austria with a color-coded overlay indicating cell phone usage in various parts of the city. Using call origin and destination data, they are able to not only reverse-engineer a topographic map of the geography and landscape, but one of phone usage as well. The implications of the research have practical applications in law enforcement, emergency management, and traffic management. There are also, of course, privacy implications."

15 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Invasion of Privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is anyone checking to ensure that the MIT engineers are not eavesdropping on your cell-phone telephone calls?

    1. Re:Invasion of Privacy by dshaw858 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Researchers at MIT may not be able to hear your cellphone call, but they have found a way to see it.

      Only CalTech's calls ;)

      - dshaw

    2. Re:Invasion of Privacy by CDMA_Demo · · Score: 3, Funny


      Caltech will probably release a map next week that highlights eavesdropping grad students at MIT campus.

  2. Next up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    MIT researches why slashdot editors can't correct obvious spelling error. (Two verbs in a row? come on!)

  3. All calls terminate here by HDlife · · Score: 2, Funny

    http://cms.graztourismus.at/cms/beitrag/10004630/4 7303/

  4. Red Peak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The red peak must be a girls college...

  5. Geography... by someguy456 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think the question on all of our minds right now is...

    What the hell are MIT researchers doing at Austria?!?

    /chose the wrong school

    //no wait, there are hot girls here

    --
    Robert Bindler
    A Computer Science student's views on technology.
  6. From TFA by max99ted · · Score: 3, Funny
    The research could also have implications for use in large-scale emergencies and for transportation engineers seeking ways to better manage freeway traffic.
    You mean better manage freeway traffic emergencies caused by people on their cell phones?
    --

    Please stop APK.. you're only hurting yourself.

  7. Re:Link in article broken. by Bryansix · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can't believe that this article was posted with a broken link.

  8. Re:HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZONK! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Slashdot has editors?

    I am amazed! What do they do?

  9. Re:cell phone usage by zippthorne · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nobody cares where you go. Nobody cares where you are. Nobody cares about you. You crazy paranoid megalomaniac, they're not after you. They only care about important people. like me :)

    --
    Can you be Even More Awesome?!
  10. Can you see me now... by FlatCatInASlatVat · · Score: 3, Funny
    Uh oh!

    ------------

    Non contorque sub ubi voster. (Don't get your knickers in a twist).

  11. stating the bleedin' obvious by cliveholloway · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...indicating cell phone usage in various parts of the city. Using call origin and destination data, they are able to not only reverse-engineer a topographic map of the geography and landscape, but one of phone usage as well

    Really? Who'd have thunk it? Outstanding deduction there.

    cLive ;-)

    --
    -- Trinity in high heels carrying a whip: The donimatrix - there is no spoonerism
  12. Re:Fremont in Seattle is not as Bright by MoralHazard · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait a goddamned minute. Since when does *not having a cellphone* make you COOLer??!!?? Is that all it takes these days?

    Get this, buddy: I didn't have a cell phone way back in 1997. That's right, I was too cool to have a cell phone before you were even cool enough to get one in the first place! Beat that!

  13. Re:Privacy implications? by hcdejong · · Score: 2, Funny

    Easy. Just say "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" and every mobile on the map will be neatly labeled.