Sonar Software Detects Laptop User Presence 167
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."
Safe? (Score:3, Funny)
Damn, now PETA is going to bitch about what happens when dolphins use these laptops.
Re:Safe? (Score:5, Funny)
"We can't use that laptop here, this is bat country!"
Re:Takes Care of one of my pet peeves (Score:5, Funny)
I, too, often find myself looking at a screen for extended periods of time without touching the mouse or keyboard, while I, ah... read the articles. Nothing ruins a good article more than having the screen saver start up right as you are about to finish.
I'm still here! (Score:4, Funny)
I'm just asleep, you insensitive clod! (or does it detect snoring?)
Re:Headphones (Score:5, Funny)
The solution to this, and ALL life's problems is to uninstall pulse audio.
Re:Activity (Score:2, Funny)
Like batman?
Comment removed (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Takes Care of one of my pet peeves (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Activity (Score:3, Funny)
Write a script to move the mouse for you. just a few pixels will do.
Re:Takes Care of one of my pet peeves (Score:4, Funny)
I, too, often find myself looking at a screen for extended periods of time without touching the mouse or keyboard, while I, ah... read the articles. Nothing ruins a good article more than having the screen saver start up right as you are about to finish.
That's funny, the exact same thing happens to me when I'm watching porn.
Re:Bat Country? (Score:4, Funny)
I use an HP Pavillion dv6, but I'd prefer something with a touchscreen.
Thanks for asking!
Re:Activity (Score:4, Funny)
Also, how does a 5 minute delay from a regular inactivity time out differ from this so much that this tech is all of the sudden dangerous. It seems to me like people can be monitored via IM just as easy right now as if this was being widely used, just with a tad bit more 'false present' status existing.
Because 5 minutes is the maximum amount of time I can be outside before I get scared of the big ball of fire in the sky and have to run back in. If the crooks think I'm home that whole time, I'll always be safe.
Re:Takes Care of one of my pet peeves (Score:4, Funny)
My God. There's porn on the Internet now?
simple solution! (Score:3, Funny)
I have a simple solution to that problem. I used to have similar problems (though not as bad) - the 15KHz whistle of the old color TVs used to bug me. But during my misspent youth I spent several years listening to lots of loud music - 10 feet from the speakers at rock concerts, etc. Now, other than a constant ringing in my ears, I'm fine! And I no longer hear HF audio, so no more annoying whistles for me :D Try it, soon you'll be as deaf as Pete Townsend!
(FYI, the last band I was in used in-ear monitors - Story about deaf musicians and using in-ear monitors [healthyhearing.com]. It wasn't even a loud band, but it was nice being able to mix our own levels without worrying about the house levels.