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Bones Could Become Conduits For Data Swaps
Billosaur writes "New Scientist Tech has an intriguing article about researchers at Rice University in Houston, TX who are looking at ways to use the human skeleton to transmit data. The idea is to use bones to conduct sound waves, with 0's and 1's being represented by different frequencies. Preliminary results, shared with a conference on body networks in Florence, Italy, this week, show that bones can conduct even low-power vibrations with few errors. The idea is that the conduction of sound along bone would be more secure than that via radio waves, leading to the possibility of swapping data with someone by shaking their hand."
I knew they got it wrong. Tinfoil does not stop the transmissions to my teeth!
Lends new meaning to the term "broken pipe."
'Every story, if continued long enough, ends in death.' --Ernest Hemingway
An implanted vibrator that would allow me to securely send data from my phone to someone elses phone. Really, how often does bluetooth actually fail to beam a business card?
Also I'd expect that the vibrations would exit through your feet and allow for snooping from ground based devices.
I can see the potential in the medical device field.
It would rather suck if we became weary of handshaking for fear of filling our interfaced electronic devices with spam or (computer) viruses. I suppose that, in a bizarre way, it's a way for computer viruses to become human viruses.
Just what we need... an excuse for the MAFIAA to subpoena our bodies for network traffic analysis.
Insert Sig Here
Arrrrrr! Shiver me timbers!
Please stop stalking me, bro.
The vast majority of people I meet can barely transmit their own data through their brains.
tm
Support TBI Research: http://www.raisinhope.org
So, human bones can be used to transmit data? Now, not only does my necromantic fortress of doom's decor scare the crap out of my enemies, I can save a fortune on cat-5 and fiber cabling.
Incoming Squirt!
Cancel or Allow?
Please stop stalking me, bro.
As is frequently the case here (think yesterday's story about the judge supposedly demanding that RAM be turned over), if you read a blurb here and think "If true, that person must be really stupid!", it's worth R'ingTFA.
As usual, the submitter completely missed the point of the link.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
A storm's a-coming, I can feel it in ma bones.
Yeah yeah gramps, we all can. It's just the hourly SkyNet Subcutaneous Weather update.
Galdarn kids these days, no respect.
I anticipate a lot of uncomfortable conversations about "boning."
"I think that God in creating Man somewhat overestimated his ability."-Oscar Wilde
We're using to "beaming" ecards to one another. The zune lets you "squirt" things.
Logically we'd have to say "Let me bone you my business card", and i'm not sure i like that.
I believe it was made illegal in the 50's-60's in Canada because it was though to cause bone (cartilage) degridation, and arthritis.
Transmitting 1's an 0's is new, as these were originally made to hear music throughout your entire body. If someone has a link, I don't, but I heard about this from my grandparents when I was younger.
"Here's Shaving Ryan's Privates: Midget Edition."
"Sweet thanks!"
*Squish*
"...ummm, what the hell. Did you wash your hands?"
"Oops!"
Abaddon: An Xbox 360 Indie game
Belch at the wrong time any you one-click purchased a lot 1000 beanie babys on e-bay. Farts cause a seg fault.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
What about health issues? And how does it work out with diseases (or disfunctions) like Osteoporosis and Arthritis?
Think what happens when the device is operating. The vibrations it generates will propagate as sound waves not only into the adjacent bone but also into the air surrounding the device. With the right microphones and signal processing techniques it will certainly be possible to intercept the airborne sound waves at significant distances from the device (depending on ambient noise level, sound pressure level, internal body noise as a function of motions of body parts and clothing, etc).
Claiming that the device provides secure communication is wrong and potentially very misleading e.g. to any investors who read this article. I doubt the quote attributed to Liebschner is accurate given that this is only an article in that disappointingly woolly thinking New Scientist magazine.
quoted from the write-up: "... The idea is that the conduction of sound along bone would be more secure that via radio waves, leading to the possibility of swapping data with someone by shaking their hand." :) Not sure how that compares to this, but both manage the same trick
This general idea was also tackled by Thomas Zimmerman doing research for IBM. His idea did the same thing using signals carried on the skin (which didn't need the FIRM handshake to work
Here's a link : PAN Fact Sheet
AB HOC POSSUM VIDERE DOMUM TUUM
Now when the RIAA sues you for "an arm and a leg," they won't be kidding!
Government's idea of a balanced budget: take money from the right pocket to balance...oh who am I kidding?
"Here's Shaving Ryan's Privates: Midget Edition."
Link please?
Supporting World Peace Through Nuclear Pacification
Come on, everybody! Group Hug! :)
Bow until heads touch... much more sonically conductive path than through a handshake. Substitute head lice for viruses transmitted. Thicker skulls probably work better. As usual, those with the least information share the most.