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Human Ear Could Be Next Biometric System

Posted by timothy on from the whisper-secrets-in-your-ear dept.

narramissic writes "A team of researchers at the University of Southampton, UK, has received funding from the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to learn whether otoacoustic emissions (OAE), the ear-generated sounds that emanate from within the spiral-shaped cochlea in the inner ear, can be used as a viable biometric technology like fingerprints and IRIS recognition. According to a report in New Scientist, someday instead of asking for passwords or pin numbers, a call center or bank would simply use a device on their telephone to produce a brief series of clicks in the recipient's ear to confirm the person is who they say they are." Try faking that with gummy bears.

12 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Foots by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why go to extremes (ears, feet) when you can follow the golden middle road? Oh, wait...

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  2. Gummy bear in my ear! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    It won't come out! STICKY!!! Thanks timothy.

  3. ear wax by greg_barton · · Score: 3, Funny

    me + ear wax == suspected terrorist?

  4. Re: by DomNF15 · · Score: 3, Funny

    You're right, no faking with gummy bears - duplicating the ear-generated sounds will require slightly more sophisticated tape recorder technology...

  5. Reservoir Dogs... by mc1138 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Do we really need a bunch of thieves stealing ears to break into laptops and atms?

    --
    The musings of just another geek and his junk.
  6. A series of clicks you say... by hack++slash · · Score: 3, Funny

    *ring* *ring*
    "Hello?"
    *click* *clickclickclick* *click* *clickclick* *click*
    "What was that Flipper? Timmy's trapped on a raft and floating out to sea?"
    "But what's that got to do with my bank balance?"

    --
    To do something right, you often have to roll up your sleeves and get busy.
    1. Re:A series of clicks you say... by Kozz · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Hello?"

      "There are three flowers in a vase. The third one is green."

      --
      I only post comments when someone on the internet is wrong.
  7. Re:why do we want this? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I was there they were interested in gait recognition,

    "Ah, Mr. John Cleese! Our system has recognized your Silly Walk. Your transaction may proceed.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  8. CAUTION! by inertia187 · · Score: 0, Funny

    Do not use otoacoustic emissions system on remaining good ear.

    --
    A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
  9. urine analysis by MooseTick · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would prefer a urine analysis test to this. I have to pee all the time and the ability to pee right at my wortstation would be welcome. My screensaver kicks in every 15 minutes though so it would keep me healthy by forcing me to drink my 8 glasses of water per day so I could stay logged in.

    --
    Ninjas don't carry tic tacs
  10. Re:Mod parent up! by RichardJenkins · · Score: 3, Funny

    And the most useful thing I've read on /. in years!

  11. Diablo by baKanale · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sweet! Now I can put all those ears I collected in Diablo to good use!