Forming New Mobile Networks With People-Borne Sensors 49
An anonymous reader writes with this snippet from Medical Daily: "Members of the public could form the backbone of powerful new mobile internet networks by carrying wearable sensors. According to researchers from Queen's University Belfast, the novel sensors could create new ultra high bandwidth mobile internet infrastructures and reduce the density of mobile phone base stations. The engineers from Queen's renowned Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT), are working on a new project based on the rapidly developing science of body centric communications."
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And access what? (Score:3, Insightful)
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Re-read the summary, if you even did that.
These are seperate devices, not in your mobile phones, that you wear. They simply have their own battery power and provide the backbone for your network.
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Where's the bad analogy, guy?
If we're accountable for stuff that happens on our (un)locked routers, imagine what this technology would do.
"Your honor, I was just walking down the street, I had no idea my device was transmitting laundered money for the mafia!"
"Your device, your liability! GUILTY!"
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There are too many privacy concerns, especially identity theft, that would make such a technology unacceptable to the general public
First, couldn't the traffic be encrypted? Second, how is this different than an unsecured wifi hotspot? I encourage people to unsecure their hotspots*, as I'm utterly opposed to selfishness.
* as long as they're not paying per byte and don't have a data cap.
IEEE 802.15.6 Body Area Network Standard (Score:4, Informative)
The IEEE 802.15.6 task group on body area networks [ieee802.org] has been standardizing a communication protocol for similar sensor applications, but emphasizing long battery life rather than high data rates.
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Why should we shoulder the burden? (Score:2, Funny)
Why should "Members of the public.." have to shoulder the burden? What about those lazy, unproductive chickens, rabbits, rats, seagulls. At least it will give them something else to do rather than stealing my lunch.
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You mean something else to do rather than this [youtube.com]?
Redirect... (Score:2, Funny)
If it kills off the Internet, then good! (Score:3, Interesting)
From TFA: "Success in this field will not only bring major social benefits it could also bring significant commercial rewards for those involved."
If they're talking about a type of mesh network, then I say bring it on! Right now, things really don't look good for the "traditional" Internet as we know it. It's controllable servers, lap-dog ISPs, government p0wned routers, etc. One day, the net will just be Rupert Murdoch's pay-ground just as sure as cable TV went main stream in the 1980's.
Take out the centrality, enter the mesh. They stole our revolution - let's steal it back!!
(Sits back and waits for the sound of cynical laughter and replies beginning "In the real world...")
Re:If it kills off the Internet, then good! (Score:4, Funny)
It's going to have some technological hurdles to cross, like transatlantic links...unless you like rowing...
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Absolutely. In fact, scoot forward maybe 20-30 years or so and imagine passively-powered storage devices. Imagine them tiny, dirt cheap, made in China and anywhere you care to look.
Boof - we got ourselves a totally new world: On my way to work, my phone alerts me to the fact that I've just walked past the entire works of Hollywood, in 1080p, on a chip the size of a pinhead and the cost of a stick of gum. Would I like to copy some to my device? OK. 10 seconds later, I've got everything made between 1940 and
I'm gonna go Orwellian on yo ass (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I'm gonna go Orwellian on yo ass (Score:4, Insightful)
I can see this as something most people are not going to want to carry around. Phone, keys, wallet and sunglasses are too much as it is.
Maybe they can integrate them into purses/man-satchels/bras/brossieres etc. along with wireless recharging and built-in antennas in the straps.
Give it a few years, cellphones in early 90 had brick-sized batteries and yet people still carried them around, now it is hard to find a phone that is not a miniature wi-fi enabled game console with a video camera that can also make phone calls.
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... and with battery lifetimes more commonly associated with netbooks than cellphones. It's almost depressing how people now think it is *normal* for a mobile phone to need charging more than once a week.
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Sure. I'll do that. (Score:4, Interesting)
Because I've always wanted to be part of a hive.
Especially one geared towards tracking me and everyone near me.
Rough Cuts (Score:1, Informative)
For those who might be interested, haee a look at this upcoming O'Reilly title.
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596807740 [oreilly.com]
In addition to RFID chipping my cat, I'm building him a GPS-enabled collar that I can ping him should he escape using my cell phone.
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In addition to RFID chipping my cat, I'm building him a GPS-enabled collar that I can ping him should he escape using my cell phone.
Your cat uses a cell phone to escape? Wow, smart cat! My cat's dumb, she moves her lips when she reads.
On empty streets? (Score:3, Insightful)
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However people can still leave their routers on while they sleep/are at home.
But of course the signal would be weaker.
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However people can still leave their routers on while they sleep/are at home. But of course the signal would be weaker.
Would you bet your life on the people letting their routers opened and with free access?
I mean, there's a difference between a contract with a mobile provider (at least, assuming that they can prove it, your estate can sue the telecom if a signal should have been available - as advertised - in the area and it was not) and "maybe the routers would be functional, maybe not".
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How is that worse than just not having a signal cos there is no cell tower in that area, or buildings blocking you, etc?
The contract I have with the telecom provider and the advertised map of coverage. The later informs me where I don't have coverage before I enter the area.
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You would do what we did twenty years ago, before mobile phones: run like hell, scream and shout, rather than calmly ringing 000/911 and making sure that the police can get a fix on the position that the bad guy will leave your body.
Yes, I would certainly do the above. However, being able to supplementary call the emergency services is a plus, don't you think?
Think at another: what about having a heart attack? With a coverage map from the telecom company, I can learn in advance were I have coverage and where I don;t. With this nice technology, I only know that maybe I have but maybe a won't, all depends on how many subscribers the telecom has and how many of them are on the street at the moment.
Don't take me wrong, I'm not diminishing
it's all about battery life (Score:1)
What this proposal means is basically that everybody carry around extra batteries so that people far from the tower don't have to.
But, really, now, there are more fun way of getting help with your dying battery than that. Like "Hey, lady, can I plug my high-powered USB plug into your USB socket to recharge my battery?" So much more personal!
Too bad this won't take off... (Score:2)
Give ME the funding... (Score:1)