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Gaze-Tracking Software Protects Computer Privacy

Posted by kdawson on from the shoulder-surfer-wipeout dept.

Ponca City, We Love You writes "Two years ago computer security expert Bill Anderson read about scientific research on how the human eye moves as it reads and processes text and images. 'This obscure characteristic... suddenly struck me as (a solution to) a security problem,' says Anderson. With the help of a couple of software developers, Anderson developed a software program called Chameleon that tracks a viewer's gaze patterns and only allows an authorized user to read text on the screen, while everyone else sees gibberish. Chameleon uses gaze-tracking software and camera equipment to track an authorized reader's eyes to show only that one person the correct text. After a 15-second calibration period in which the software learns the viewer's gaze patterns, anyone looking over that user's shoulder sees dummy text that randomly and constantly changes. To tap the broader consumer market, Anderson built a more consumer-friendly version called PrivateEye, which can work with a simple Webcam to blur a user's monitor when he or she turns away. It also detects other faces in the background, and a small video screen pops up to alert the user that someone is looking at the screen. 'There have been inventions in the space of gaze-tracking. There have been inventions in the space of security,' says Anderson. 'But nobody has put the two ideas together, as far as we know.'"

13 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Technology vs People Problems by Reason58 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If your workers are handling sensitive material maybe you shouldn't have them in a cubicle with their back to the entrance.

  2. more inexpensive solution by davek · · Score: 4, Interesting

    With regard to over-the-shoulder power, I bought by first CHIMP in 98. Can't work without it.

    http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/accessories/2940/

    --
    6th Street Radio @ddombrowsky
  3. Gaze-Tracking Software by Reason58 · · Score: 4, Funny

    This gaze-tracking software will hurt the US military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.

  4. I smell venture capital PR by idontgno · · Score: 5, Insightful
    TFA's description of the technology contains a bit of hand-waving:

    Chameleon uses gaze-tracking software and camera equipment to track an authorized reader's eyes

    Check, that's doable now.

    to show only that one person the correct text.

    How? Elfin magic? If a screen region under the "authorized reader's" field of view is displaying the protected content to the authorized reader, it's also displaying exactly the same thing to anyone else who happens to be looking at the same area.

    So far as I can tell, this is the part of the proof labeled "Magic happens here". Also known as the part of the technology that needs more investment. So invest now!

    Where's my flying car, dammit?

    --
    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    1. Re:I smell venture capital PR by hacksoncode · · Score: 4, Interesting
      It doesn't say specifically, but I'm guessing it makes use of the saccade effect. Your brain literally doesn't see changes in the visual field while your eyes are moving from one spot to another (this motion is called a saccade).

      So, basically, the text is only "correct" in the exact spot you're looking at any instant... as soon as your eyes move to the next word, the gibberish that's there before the saccade is changed to the "correct" word for that new spot. And you don't notice.

      Anyone that the camera is not tracking would just see random gibberish because the words they are looking at usually haven't been changed to be the "correct" ones for that spot at the instant they are looking at them.

      It's a well known process... just never applied to the field of security before. Also, it would take a very high-speed, very high-resolution camera, so I doubt it's applicability to general purpose computers any time soon.

      And, of course, if someone watching you has the same high-speed, high-resolution camera that you have, they could just record the whole video stream and perform an analysis on it... so it's not terribly good security either.

  5. Re:or you can just add a privacy screen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Have you actually, say, worked with a privacy screen? The ones which have been foisted upon me suck. That and, oh, yeah, they don't work with laptops. However, an even sweeter rendition would be focus follows gaze, particularly for X11 and the random desktop environments. Then instead of wiggling the mouse every time I switch screens, I could just type where I'm looking. Obviously, it should hold the focus and let me keep typing if I'm still typing when I look away.

  6. It's an automatic "Boss" key!! by thewils · · Score: 5, Funny

    I could have used this when I was playing Prince of Persia on one of my previous contracts!!!

    --
    Once I was a four stone apology. Now I am two separate gorillas.
  7. Re:Flat screens! by Enleth · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Does this still bother you, even with today's LCDs? I'm currently sitting at the side of my desk, typing this on a laptop, and I can read the text just fine on either of the two Dell 1905FP LCDs at the center of my desk, with one about 40cm away at a 45deg angle and the other about 80cm away at a 70deg angle. Both are displaying 12pt black-on-white antialiased text (PDFs) at 90dpi.

    --
    This is Slashdot. Common sense is futile. You will be modded down.
  8. Here's the Video by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Her's the Video of Private Eye

  9. Re:Ok? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Funny

    typing and listening to music, you head is swinging back and forth to the beat

    Exactly! This is gonna be a big problem for Stevie Wonder - oh wait...

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  10. Eye strain by slummy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What about eye strain from the constant blurring/clarification process?
    I would think a person using this technology would have to train themselves not to try and focus on an area of the screen that would normally be in focus until the "gaze" sensor figures out what they're trying to look at.

  11. A better use for gaze tech by stokessd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Screw privacy, I want my window manager to focus the window I'm looking at. Now that would be useful.

    Sheldon

  12. CRAP!! Next DMCA intrusion by eatvegetables · · Score: 5, Funny
    Crap! Soon we'll get T.V.s that know that their being watched, who is watching, and exactly what viewers are looking at. ...Coming soon to a T.V. near you.

    Viewer: (thinking to himself) Oh great, a commercial. Time for a potty break. la, la, la (walks away from T.V.)

    T.V.: (in loud voice) Alert, Alert, Alert. Viewer, you have been away from the television for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. You now risk violating your television and cable provider's ULA and risk violating section 5, paragraph 10, subsection a of the 2010 DMCA redux and expansion act.

    Viewer: Coming, coming...just have to give a quick shake....O.K., I'm here. Whew, that was close.

    T.V.: Alert, Alert, Alert!!

    Viewer: Wha!, I'm here. I'm watching again for God's sake.

    T.V.: Viewer, you twice failed to take visual notice of the coke can product placement in this episode of Friends. You have now violated your television and cable provider's ULA and thus also violated the aforementioned DCMA act. Please place your hands on your head and wait for the authorities to arrive....a little higher please...there you go.