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South Koreans Using Kinect To Monitor DMZ

Nerval's Lobster writes "The South Korean government is reportedly using Microsoft's Kinect motion-based game controller to monitor the heavily guarded DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) that separates the country from North Korea. The brainchild of freelance South Korean developer Jae Kwan Ko, the system is reportedly capable of differentiating between people and animals. (Hat tip to Kotaku, which originally ferreted out the story from South Korean publication Hankooki .) That makes it superior to the infrared systems already in use along the DMZ, which have a harder time determining whether a moving object is human. The Kinect-based system can send alerts of suspicious activity to the nearest military outpost. While the South Korean government reportedly installed the hardware at select portions of the DMZ last year, news about it is only emerging now—and details are relatively scarce, considering how this is a military project. Despite that secrecy, the South Korean government is playing up Jae Kwan Ko's contributions, highlighting him in the local media as an example of innovation and creative drive. Largely self-taught, he makes money by building apps for various mobile platforms—most of which, presumably, have nothing to do with detecting military threats."

23 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. In other news North Korea attempted a raid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Witness describe a hoard of armed men running through the DMZ yelling "Xbox OFF!"

  2. Re:Sooo... by amicusNYCL · · Score: 2

    Damnit, you beat me to it. This system will be no match for the infamous Seventh Furry Battalion.

    --
    "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
  3. easy workaround by slashmydots · · Score: 4, Funny

    When the kinect won't shut up about 2 people being in front of it or won't switch primary users, we just build a small fort around ourselves with couch cushions and tada, complete invisibility. I hope the Koreans haven't developed couch cushion technology.

  4. Re:Sad times by i+kan+reed · · Score: 2

    It wasn't "necessary" for the past 50 years, it just makes the terrible cold war the Koreas are in a little easier by means of technology.

  5. Re: Sad times by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why would we want to stop the influx of Undocumented Democrats?

  6. Re: Sad times by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You must not have heard that borders and areas within 100 miles are "constitution free zones". I find it extremely convenient that these areas happen to correspond with 80% of the national population.

  7. Solid Snake : master of disguise by oneiros27 · · Score: 4, Funny

    For years people have complained about how much of an idiot security guards have to be for Solid Snake to be able to sneak around under their noses by hiding in a cardboard box.

    Now someone's actually built a system that would make it completely effective ... and they used video game controlers to do it. Coincidence?

    (conspiracy theorists can now discuss the probability that Konami paid them to it)

    --
    Build it, and they will come^Hplain.
  8. join or die by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 2

    I think that is what it is up north.

  9. Re: Sad times by i+kan+reed · · Score: 2

    Forbids government monitoring of every person in the area without warrant.

  10. Re: Sad times by Qzukk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The easy answer:
    1) the liberals hope they'll vote for them because they tend to be poor.
    2) the Republicans hope they'll vote for them because they tend to be Catholic and anti-abortion.

    The real answer:
    X) the corporations hope they'll work for them at sub-market wages because they're entitled to cheap labor.

    It's telling that back when Bush Jr was governor here, he'd talk a big talk about cracking down on immigrants, then he'd be called into a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, and he'd tone it down after that. He got to be president and his puppet masters had to make him come down against the Minutemen militia, despite the fact that no matter what your opinion of the second amendment is, just about every interpretation of it supports a regulated militia for the defense of our borders from invasion.

    --
    If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
  11. dancing is ... by Martin+S. · · Score: 2

    Dancing is for decadent westerners.

    Citizens of the glorious Peoples Republic do not engage in such degenerate nonsense.

  12. Already exists by Martin+S. · · Score: 2

    I give you the Samsung SGR-A1

    http://www.mobilemag.com/wp-co...

  13. Re:Why is the south doing this? by jittles · · Score: 4, Informative

    I thought South Korea mostly welcomed people who were defecting from the north. If the North was trying to launch an attack of any significance I wouldn't expect the IR system would have a hard time identifying it.

    Due to incident after incident the Korean troops have to be very careful who they let across the DMZ.

  14. Easy! by arielCo · · Score: 2

    It's a job for the Ananthropomorphic Infiltration Suit: http://i.imgur.com/ilwyj.jpg

    --
    This post contains no rudeness or derision of any kind. All arguments are friendly. Terms and exclusions may apply.
  15. How long until they can connect it to a gun? by swb · · Score: 2

    I wonder how long until they can connect it to a gun and have it automatically neutralize threats?

    It's not hard to imagine a network of sensors and guns that can be used to automatically target infiltrators and neutralize them.

    1. Re:How long until they can connect it to a gun? by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 2

      Yesterday's 10,000 dollar specialty equipment is today's 200 dollar video game accessory. Wiimote, Kinect, wii balance board, all come to mind right away.

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  16. Re:war is only a game by Dahamma · · Score: 2

    Life.

  17. Re:war is only a game by Minwee · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's see, USA has America's Army, PRC has The Glorious Mission, what does ROK call their war recruitment game?

    "Who Wants To Eat Something?"

  18. deceptive titles: it's Kinect inspired software by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

    what they are using is based on the same recognition semantics that the Kinect uses. bottom line: it's software that is inspired by how the Kinect works what uses their existing hardware thus saving oodles of money.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  19. Re: Sad times by mythosaz · · Score: 4, Informative

    Forbids government monitoring of every person in the area without warrant.

    First, the idea that a camera pointed at a border is somehow forbidden -- wouldn't want to monitor every person in an area without a warrant, now would we -- is silly. Someone call DOT and have them take down the freeway cams.

    That said, we already employ vibration, and magnetic remote sensors, as well as cameras in both visible and infrared, plus software that helps determine if an event is human, animal or other in watching our borders (Canada and Mexico). It seems like a Kinect-based system would do even better. It'd stop CBP officers from responding to wolves tripping sensors.

    http://www.policechiefmagazine...

  20. What kind of range? by will_die · · Score: 2

    From the technical side what kind of range can the kinetic have? It is designed for a home use so 15 to 20 feet?
    If that is the case then how can they be using them in the DMZ when you would want to detect people further out then that.

  21. Re:war is only a game by jratcliffe · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let's see, USA has America's Army, PRC has The Glorious Mission, what does ROK call their war recruitment game?

    "Who Wants To Eat Something?"

    That would be the DPRK's version.

  22. DMZ Is Not A Migration Route by cmholm · · Score: 2

    Citizens of the North trying to go South do it through China, the Yalu River being a much easier, safer crossing. Only soldiers work the heavily mined and observed DMZ. Crossing the intra-Korean border is a really good way to get shot by either/both sides.

    --
    Luke, help me take this mask off ... Just for once, let me butterfly kiss you with my own eyes.