Chapter 11: Emerging technologies
translate the sign into a language you do understand. It then draws that translation on your camera view replacing the original image.
11.06 Biometrics Remember
Augmented reality is a very interesting technology and one that is gaining a lot of attention at the moment:
Biometrics is the use of technology that tracks user values. This could be as simple as their heart rate with fitness devices, or it could be voice recognition soft ware, fingerprint and iris recognition or even recognition of DNA patterns.
• An example of using augmented reality is Google Glass.
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Users can wear a pair of glasses that overlay information about the world around them, such as the name of the street they are on. They allow you to take images and share them on social media, and can also provide news updates. Augmented reality has also been used as part of computer games. The Nintendo 3DS has ‘AR Cards’ at which you can point your 3DS camera lens. It then builds, for example, a 3D model of a Nintendo character in that spot.
Augmented reality does have some potential issues:
• Using a product such as Google Glass can mean your
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vision is impeded. You might easily bump into someone or, if driving, it could distract a driver and cause an accident. The technology still has issues with object recognition due to lighting or the angle of the camera. A product such as Google Glass can suffer security issues when streaming data. The streaming is often done from a mobile device to the Google Glass using a Bluetooth connection. There is the potential for someone to possibly exploit a security flaw and look at your private data or disrupt your Google Glass.
Biometrics works by taking several examples of whatever is being measured, so for a voice command a user may have to say ‘Hello’ five times for the computer to get an average measurement. This data is then saved and attached to a user account, just like a username and password. The user simply gives the same command of ‘Hello’ and this is compared with the values stored to determine if there is a match. If the vocal pattern matches closely enough to the original values taken, the user will be able to access their account. Some uses have been developed for biometrics:
• Some mobile devices and laptops currently have a
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fingerprint recognition device attached. When the device is locked, the user places their finger on the scanner to unlock it. Anyone who has watched enough spy movies has probably seen biometric devices being used, such as iris scanners or hand scanners that measure the size, shape and fingerprints of the user’s hand. Some airports now have the capability of reading biometric passports. This means that a person’s biometric data, often their facial and iris image, is attached to their passport. They can go through a special gate at passport control that will scan their passport and their facial features and if there is a match they will be allowed to pass through.
Biometric technology is incredibly personalised because of the data it takes in and stores. This can cause issues:
• Very personal details are stored about users. These Figure 11.03 - Google Glass.
DISCUSSION POINT Find out about Microsoft’s augmented reality product the HoloLens. What impact could this product have on a person’s life?
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could be used against them if someone were able to hack into the database where the data is stored. In fact, the database could be abused and have data values replaced, locking original users out and giving access only to those who hacked into it. There isn’t anything stopping a user from presenting fake biometric material, such as a fake fingerprint or a recording of a voice command. These would need to be very high quality to be undetected, but it is possible.
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