Smart Phones Could Know Their Users By How They Walk

mirgens writes "Technology Review has a short article on new work on gait analysis with the accelerometers built into many smart phones. The work was done at the Norwegian Information Security Laboratory ('Nislab'). The need for more security on mobile devices is increasing with new functionalities and features made available. To improve device security, Nislab proposed gait recognition as a protection mechanism — in other words, if somebody else walks away with your phone, it locks up. While previous work on gait recognition used video sources, for instance to identify people in airports or secure buildings, the Nislab researchers collected the gait data using a Google G1 phone containing the AK8976A embedded accelerometer." What if you're running from a mugger and want to dial 911?

Comments

What if you're running from a mugger and want to d

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

What if you're running from a mugger and want to dial 911?

Then don't lock out emergency functions - similar to the way that (in the US at least) phones without a valid subscription can still call 911.

What about other motions?

[pedantic bore]

I'm worried that this sort of thing would lead to phones that won't allow me to answer when they detect that I might be driving.

Re:What about other motions?

[realityimpaired]

I'm more worried about the fact that my gait changes based on whether I'm wearing shoes with a lift or not, and how high that lift is. Admittedly not as much of a problem for the male folk in the room, but in my closet there's flats, as well as shoes with heels varying from 1-4", and I very rarely wear the same height of shoe two days in a row.

I don't like the idea of my phone locking me out if it thinks I'm driving. In theory that would be temporary, until you stop moving. But I *really* don't like the idea of my phone locking me out because I'm wearing a different pair of shoes than I did yesterday.

Cure for drunk dialing

[valderost]

Phone locks up when you're stumbling drunk - for some people that's a good thing!

Fail badly in practice?

[TheLink]

How's it going to work for ladies who carry phones in handbags etc (many don't use the same bag all the time).

Those ladies actually have a high chance of getting their phones stolen - the thieves steal the bag with the phone inside etc. Many ladies typically don't wear any garments that have pockets. Or worse there are pockets but they are sewn shut so that you don't use them by mistake and make an ugly looking bulge ;).

As for guys, it might work, but I doubt a significant number of us would intentionally buy a phone with this. If us guys wanted an antitheft phone we'd just buy a really cheap phone. Or "customize" it to the point where its fence value drops immensely.

A way to reduce phone theft is by phone makers making their phone IMEIs very hard to change (and ensuring that they are unique), and the cellular providers blocking stolen phones (even globally).

Always wanted a phone that ...

[vtcodger]

Great!!! I've always wanted a phone that won't work if I am jogging, riding a horse, skiing, walking on ice, sprain my ankle, having a gout attack, riding a bicycle, fleeing for my life, .... When can I expect to be able to buy this wonder?

Re:What if you're running from a mugger and want t

[PaulOShea]

If you're trying to dial the cops while running from a mugger I predict an encounter with a sturdy lamppost, street sign or news stand in your very near future.

Re:What if you're running from a mugger and want t

[Pharmboy]

>> What if you're running from a mugger and want to dial 911?

> Then don't lock out emergency functions - similar to the way that
> (in the US at least) phones without a valid subscription can still call 911.

The editing on /. gets worse each day. What is more interesting of a question would have been "are walks as unique as fingerprints, and can this be used to violate privacy" How is this quantified, and could the police put you on a suspect list because your "walk" is similar to who they think committed some crime? Those are interesting questions. As for 911, as the parent points out, that would be obvious to anyone with any life experience.