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Cell Phones Could Sniff Out Deadly Chemicals

Hugh Pickens writes "Science Daily reports that Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate's Cell-All is an initiative to equip cell phones with a sensor capable of detecting deadly chemicals. A chip costing less than a dollar would be embedded in cell phones and programmed to alert either the cell phone carrier to the presence of toxic chemicals in the air, and/or a central station that can monitor how many alerts in an area are being received. While one alert might be a false positive, hundreds would indicate the need for evacuation. 'Our goal is to create a lightweight, cost-effective, power-efficient solution,' says Stephen Dennis, Cell-All's program manager. Does this always-on surveillance mean that the govenment can track your precise whereabouts whenever it wants? On the contrary, DHS says; Cell-All will operate only on an opt-in basis and will transmit data anonymously."

3 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Deadly chemicals like benzoylmethylecgonine? by celle · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "sniff out the murderers of children?"

    By that definition we need a chip to sniff out corrupt and psychopathic politicians/businessmen. You know, the ones who have no problem sending other peoples kids to die in unwanted wars while they and their friends keep filling their bank accounts.

  2. HEY MODS!!! DIAL 911!!! EMERGENCY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    mod parent up

  3. Re:Mass Panic? by daveime · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    How were you modded insightful?

    They looked at your score, and applied the exact opposite procedure.