Sonar Software Detects Laptop User Presence

Steve Tarzia writes "A research group at Northwestern University and University of Michigan has released open-source display power-management software that uses a new user presence detection technique. The goal is to shut off the display immediately when the user leaves the computer rather than using slow and error-prone mouse/keyboard activity timeouts. Surprisingly, the mic and speakers of many laptop computers are sensitive to ultrasonic frequencies. Those frequencies can be used to silently probe the laptop's physical environment. This software is based on research published at the UbiComp2009 conference. A Windows binary and source code for Windows and Linux are available for download."

Comments

Re:Takes Care of one of my pet peeves

[schon]

Something like this has been available for KDE for ages, only it uses Bluetooth.

You tell it to listen for your phone - when you leave your desk (presumably with the phone in your pocket/holster/etc.) the screen lock kicks in.

I'm one of those people that hears CRT Monitors

[ArbitraryDescriptor]

And dimmer switches, cordless drill battery charges, and even a really annoying slice of whatever frequency god damn bats chatter at. In short, my super power is above average HF hearing. Hooray for me...

Now, I like this idea, it's neat, I just really hope it operates well over 18khz so my head does not explode all Scanners style when I walk into a room full of laptops.

Re:Activity

[Red Flayer]

Your privacy concerns are valid... however think of the applications for this tech.

/+5 Hat of Greed equipped.

Oooh, I'm drooling! Let's see:

$APP detects two people within viewing distance of your monitor. [click here] to upgrade to the appropriate license.

/+5 Hat of Greed unequipped.
/+5 Hat of Stealth equipped.

Oooh, I'm drooling for different reasons. Let's see:

$APP detects additional person approaching monitor. Autominimize firefox://ridiculous.pornsite.com; automaximize firefox://romanticweekendgetawayswiththewife.toshowherhowmuchyouloveher.com.

Whew, that was a close one.