Microsoft job listing hints at Surface device with a Snapdragon 845 chip

A job listing now pulled from the DICE career explorer website suggests that Microsoft may be working on a device based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor. The listing sought after a qualified individual for the role of hardware test engineer, and/or manufacturing engineer. The job was posted by ABAL Technologies, who is known for providing human resource services for Microsoft.

According to the company, the job focuses on wireless connectivity. “Develop, design, and implement RF solutions for the product and collaborating with the system EE, EE team, and ME teams to achieve stated product goals,” the listing said. “Responsible for the RF performance of the product including compliance with international regulations.”

Microsoft requires applicants to have hands-on experience designing, developing, and launching a high-profile mainstream electronic product. They must also show system engineering ownership of “complex” devices like smartphones and Xbox consoles, and semi-complex devices like Blu-ray players and smart TVs. Potential employees will work in Building 85 on Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington-based campus.

The listing hints to the possibility that Microsoft may be retuning to first-party hardware manufacturing using ARM-based processors. We already know that third-party Windows 10 laptops using Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon 835 processor are just around the corner, but the fact that Redmond is hiring individuals to test hardware based on the Snapdragon 845 hints to a possible first-party Windows 10 device for 2018.

The job listing points to two interesting technologies — first, a listing of a processor Qualcomm has yet to officially announce. The company is expected to reveal this chip during its second annual Snapdragon Technology Summit beginning December 5. Qualcomm will broadcast the keynote live from Hawaii on that date at 10:30 a.m. PT (1:30 p.m. ET), and will showcase “the latest innovations built into Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platforms.”

Part of the reveal will likely be our first glance at the Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphones packing the as-yet-unannounced processor. The chip may be based on 7-nanometer (nm) process technology, a method of reducing transistors and components to squeeze them into small chips. The Snapdragon 835 is based on 10nm FinFET process technology, meaning the newer model will pack even more transistors and subsequently better performance.

The job listing also specifically calls out Wireless AX connectivity. Right now, the Wireless AC specification serves as the current standard for wireless connectivity. The next step up, Wireless AD, is slowly creeping into the mainstream market although it’s still heavily overshadowed by Wireless AC products. Wireless AX is still in its early stages, but that hasn’t stopped companies like Asus from jumping on the Wireless AX bandwagon and producing new hardware.

But with Microsoft embracing these two technologies, speculation points to new ARM-based Surface products in 2018. Microsoft returning to the phone arena seems unlikely given the company already acknowledged it will no longer build new devices based on Windows Phone. That leads to a possible Surface-branded 2-in-1 device with an ARM-based chip sold for a cheaper price than an identical unit packing one of Intel’s eighth-generation CPUs.

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Microsoft job listing hints at Surface device with a Snapdragon 845 chip

A job listing now pulled from the DICE career explorer website suggests that Microsoft may be working on a device based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor. The listing sought after a qualified individual for the role of hardware test engineer, and/or manufacturing engineer. The job was posted by ABAL Technologies, who is known for providing human resource services for Microsoft.

According to the company, the job focuses on wireless connectivity. “Develop, design, and implement RF solutions for the product and collaborating with the system EE, EE team, and ME teams to achieve stated product goals,” the listing said. “Responsible for the RF performance of the product including compliance with international regulations.”

Microsoft requires applicants to have hands-on experience designing, developing, and launching a high-profile mainstream electronic product. They must also show system engineering ownership of “complex” devices like smartphones and Xbox consoles, and semi-complex devices like Blu-ray players and smart TVs. Potential employees will work in Building 85 on Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington-based campus.

The listing hints to the possibility that Microsoft may be retuning to first-party hardware manufacturing using ARM-based processors. We already know that third-party Windows 10 laptops using Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon 835 processor are just around the corner, but the fact that Redmond is hiring individuals to test hardware based on the Snapdragon 845 hints to a possible first-party Windows 10 device for 2018.

The job listing points to two interesting technologies — first, a listing of a processor Qualcomm has yet to officially announce. The company is expected to reveal this chip during its second annual Snapdragon Technology Summit beginning December 5. Qualcomm will broadcast the keynote live from Hawaii on that date at 10:30 a.m. PT (1:30 p.m. ET), and will showcase “the latest innovations built into Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platforms.”

Part of the reveal will likely be our first glance at the Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphones packing the as-yet-unannounced processor. The chip may be based on 7-nanometer (nm) process technology, a method of reducing transistors and components to squeeze them into small chips. The Snapdragon 835 is based on 10nm FinFET process technology, meaning the newer model will pack even more transistors and subsequently better performance.

The job listing also specifically calls out Wireless AX connectivity. Right now, the Wireless AC specification serves as the current standard for wireless connectivity. The next step up, Wireless AD, is slowly creeping into the mainstream market although it’s still heavily overshadowed by Wireless AC products. Wireless AX is still in its early stages, but that hasn’t stopped companies like Asus from jumping on the Wireless AX bandwagon and producing new hardware.

But with Microsoft embracing these two technologies, speculation points to new ARM-based Surface products in 2018. Microsoft returning to the phone arena seems unlikely given the company already acknowledged it will no longer build new devices based on Windows Phone. That leads to a possible Surface-branded 2-in-1 device with an ARM-based chip sold for a cheaper price than an identical unit packing one of Intel’s eighth-generation CPUs.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• The 7 budget PCs that prove PC gaming is for everyone

A fracture-resistant cement could make mile-high skyscrapers possible

Imagine a fracture-resistant material that could be used to create a building 10 times as high as the world’s current tallest building, without being destroyed under its own weight. That is something that researchers from the University of Konstanz in Germany have been working on. They have developed a new type of cement with impressive anti-cracking properties that is capable of resisting the kind of fractures found in regular cement. Not only could it be used for constructing incredibly tall buildings, but also more earthquake-proof structures, and new thinner building developments that nonetheless retain an impressively high level of strength.

Oh, and did we mention that it is inspired by small spiny creatures which live underwater?

“We have changed the nanostructure of cement and made it more ordered by taking inspiration from the sea urchin spine structure,” Professor Helmut Cölfen told Digital Trends. “The main novelty of our work is that the fracture resistance of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) — the binder in cement and concrete — was significantly improved by the first reported ordered CSH nanostructure. The problem of CSH is that, although it shows good compressive strength, it presents a lack of elasticity and has a poor flexural strength. This problem is now overcome with our elastic [material].”

While next-generation cement and sea urchins spines aren’t a natural pairing, Cölfen explained that both operate on the same principle. Sea urchin spines are mostly made of a delicate brittle crystalline material called calcite. However, the spines are more durable than the raw material because of the brick wall-style architecture they employ. By synthesizing cement to resemble this structure at a nano level, the researchers were able to develop a material that is immune to cracking in the way that regular cement does.

It might not be used exactly in its current form, though. “Our work shows what is possible in principle if ordering of the nanoplatelets and interspacing with a soft material can be achieved,” Cölfen continued. “But our study does not yet have an application since the dimensions of our mesocrystals are small, and the polymer mortar would likely be too expensive to be used on a large scale. But it would be easy to simply mix the mesocrystals as an additive for improving cement as potential crack stoppers.”

In tests, the team found that the cement can be used to create concrete between 40 to 100 times stronger than current mixes.

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Materials Science.

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Hungry? These are the 9 best food-delivery apps that bring deliciousness to you

Who knew that ordering delivery could be such a hassle? It can be a real pain to call a restaurant and order a meal. You might get put on hold, and oftentimes you have to talk over the background noise of a busy restaurant. Besides, reading off your credit card number in the 21st century is incredibly tedious. Why do we have to interact with people when all we want is a pepperoni pizza and a liter of soda? Thankfully, in the age of apps, one can order food for delivery with just a few taps of a phone screen. While the delivery apps below may cut down on our human-to-human contact, they also open us up to trying new restaurants and foods. Simply input your location, and these apps will show you hundreds of restaurants in your area that you can try without ever leaving the couch. We’ve rounded up the best food delivery apps that will bring deliciousness straight to your doorstep.

Seamless

Seamless is probably the most aptly named piece of mobile software on this list. Not only does the app provide menus from thousands of restaurants and offer exclusive in-app discounts, but it foregoes a delivery fee and allows you to order with just a few clicks.

Availability: Seamless is available in more 600 cities in the United States.

Fee: There’s no fee to use the app, but there are often order minimums.

Download now for:

iOS Android

Grubhub

The Grubhub app is available for both iOS and Android. You simply enter your location and Grubhub will show you all of the restaurants in your area. You can search by cuisine (Italian) or by a specific menu item (cheeseburger), making it easy to find your next meal. You can also save delivery locations, such as work or home, to speed up the process.

Availability: Grubhub is available in more than 900 cities.

Fee: The app is free to use, though some restaurants may charge a delivery fee and have a minimum order amount.

Download now for:

iOS Android

Doordash

DoorDash isn’t as big as Seamless or Grubhub, but it does offer a few unique features, such as its “DoorDash Delight” scoring system. The “Delight Score” uses factors such as food quality, restaurant popularity, delivery time, and customer satisfaction in order to recommend the best restaurants in your area.

Availability: DoorDash is available in dozens of cities, including Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, New York, and Chicago, among others.

Fee: The fee varies by restaurant. The price typically includes the cost of your meal, as well as tax, delivery fees, and an optional tip. Some restaurants charge additional service fees.

Download now for:

iOS Android

UberEats

If you trust Uber to drive you safely around the city, maybe you’ll trust them to deliver your sandwiches. The UberEats App is a standalone delivery app that is currently available in major cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles. While UberEats and Uber are different apps, they share many of the same features, such as estimated delivery times and cashless transactions.

Availability: Amsterdam, Austin, Baltimore, Singapore, Tokyo, Canada, and a host of other locations peppered throughout the globe.

Fee: UberEats charges a $5 delivery fee.

Download now for:

iOS Android

Postmates

Postmates is a little different than the other food delivery services on our list. First off, you can get a lot more than just food. Postmates is a delivery service that will pick up just about anything from just about anywhere and deliver it to your doorstep, even alcohol. Since Postmates doesn’t partner with restaurants, the only thing you are limited by is your location.

Availability: Postmates is currently available in more than 90 cities throughout the U.S.

Fee: There’s a fee added to every order, and during peak delivery times there may be additional Blitz Pricing fees added as well. Postmates also offers a “Plus Unlimited” service for $10 a month, which lands you free delivery from select stores and restaurants on orders of more than $25.

Download now for:

iOS Android

Delivery.com

Delivery.com is another delivery service that goes beyond the menu. You can get lunch, groceries, a bottle of wine, or even get your laundry with this app. Similar to Grubhub and Seamless, Delivery.com doesn’t charge you a fee to use its service. Instead, the company makes their money by taking a small percentage of your pre-tip subtotal.

Availability: Dozens of major cities across the U.S.

Fee: The app is free to use, but restaurants may charge a delivery fee and have an order minimum.

Download now for:

iOS Android

Yelp Eat 24

All of the delivery service apps on this list have some form of rating system. Of course, none of those review systems are nearly as robust as the one provided by Yelp Eat 24. Built on years of restaurant reviews, Yelp Eat 24 may have a leg up on the competition. You’ve relied on Yelp for choosing restaurants; now you can rely on it to deliver your dinner.

Availability: Currently available in more than 1,500 U.S. cities.

Fee: The app is free to use, but restaurants may charge a delivery fee and have an order minimum.

Download now for:

iOS Android

Foodler

One of the great things about using a delivery app is that it typically provides a cashless transaction. Most of the aforementioned apps accept major credit cards, Paypal, and Apple Pay, but Foodler accepts two additional forms of payment: Bitcoins and Foodbler Bucks. In addition to being a delivery service, Foodler also has a built-in rewards program that allows you to earn free meals.

Availability: More than 4,000 U.S. cities. When we tried it in Seattle, there were only two restaurants on the list.

Fee: The app is free to use, but restaurants may charge a delivery fee.

Download now for:

iOS Android

goPuff

While many of the food-delivery apps on our roundup work as a middleman between restaurants and customers, goPuff operates more like a digital convenience store. GoPuff offers everything from phone chargers and bathroom tissue, to six-packs of your favorite adult beverages — it will even deliver vaporizers, for those so inclined. You can scroll through the service’s robust database of items here.

Availability: The goPuff app is currently available in Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, New York, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Chicago, and several other locations throughout the United States. The service also plans on expanding to other cities in the near future.

Fee: The app is free to use, but goPuff charges $2 for delivery, assuming you fall within one of the 30-minute on-demand delivery zones. If your order totals more than $49, delivery is free.

Download now for:

iOS Android

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The best gaming keyboards you can buy

Your PC is the core of your gaming experience, whether it’s a desktop or a laptop. But like a Reece’s cup full of chocolate, it’s not complete without the tasty peanut butter. You need a mouse for reliable, accurate targeting, and a great keyboard for handling your movements and commands. Sure, gaming laptops can provide decent keyboards for on-the-go gaming, but when you’re sitting at the desk, a full-featured standalone mechanical keyboard is simply the best way to go.

There are more game-focused models on the market than we can count, but we have a batch we’ve put together that we highly recommend. It should be noted that all models listed below are “mechanical,” meaning they rely on spring-activated switches versus the pressure pads used in “membrane” keyboards. If you’re a gamer, you already know why mechanical keyboards are the only serious option.

Finally, our list comprises of three categories: full-sized keyboards packing everything under the sun, compact models without the number pad (tenkeyless), compact models with a number pad, and budget keyboards you can get for under $100.

Our pick

Corsair K70 RGB Rapidfire ($169)

We totally get that this keyboard has a high price tag, but it’s definitely worth every penny. In fact, some of us use it on a daily basis even outside of gaming due to its sturdy design, built-in multimedia keys, and key “sensitivity.” That latter aspect is due to the peripheral’s use of Cherry MX Speed RGB mechanical switches that provide a key actuation distance of 1.2mm versus the typical 2mm distance in standard mechanical keyboards. That 0.8mm difference does make a difference, and we love it.

Outside the speed aspect, the switches support 16.8 million colors that are customizable through Corsair’s desktop utility. There are six multimedia keys in all (one of which is a volume up-down roller), and a USB pass-though port for connecting a headset or mouse that can’t reach the back of your PC. There are no dedicated macro keys, but you can assign commands to any key using profiles created in Corsair’s desktop software. The keyboard even includes a separate set of special WASD key caps.

Check out our review here.

See it

Best full-size keyboard options

Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 ($170)

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

What’s a gaming keyboard roundup without a product by Razer? Like Logitech, Razer takes the proprietary road with this keyboard by using its in-house “Green” mechanical switches. Built specifically for gaming, they provide a distinct audible click and a tactile bump for gamers who require feedback from key presses. Razer also sells the BlackWidow Chroma V2 with its silent “Orange” (tactile) and “Yellow” (linear) switches too.

Feature-wise, Razer’s keyboard includes five dedicated macro keys, but no media keys. But it does include a USB pass-through port that’s complemented by jacks for audio output and microphone input. All keys can be programmed through the company’s Synapse desktop software along with Chroma-branded backlighting supporting 16.8 million colors. The keyboard includes a detachable ergonomic wrist rest for long gaming marathons.

See it

Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum ($180) / Spark ($180)

Logitech G910 Orion Spark

The difference between the two appears to be only cosmetic. The Spectrum includes a single palm rest spanning its width, and cylindrical keycaps for fast key presses. Meanwhile, the Spark features two uniquely-angled palm rests, and special indented key caps to “prevent mistyping.” Otherwise, both feature the same number of dedicated macro keys (nine), maximum key rollover (over 26), and dedicated audio controls.

The two G910 keyboards include a holder for your smartphone so the device can serve as a second screen, This is accomplished through the Arx Control app that provides in-game controls in supporting titles, in-game information, system statistics, and more. The keyboards are also based on Logitech’s proprietary Romer-G switches designed and optimized for gaming. These switches provide RGB illumination, an actuation distance of 1.5mm, and promise a duration of 70 million key presses.

Spectrum Spark

Best compact keyboards (without numpad)

Logitech G Pro ($130)

Here’s another portable mechanical keyboard without the number pad. The company’s primary focus was to improve the duration between touching the key caps, and the parent PC’s receipt of the keystroke command. That journey starts with using Logitech’s proprietary Romer-G mechanical switches with a 1.5mm actuation point, then moves to converting that signal into USB-based data, and ends with the data transferring to the host PC at a rate of 1,000 times per second.

Logitech says this keyboard is ideal for eSports professionals. Notable features include a detachable USB cable, 26-key rollover (meaning it can identify 26 simultaneously-pressed keys), per-key RGB lighting supporting 16.8 million colors, and profiles for more than 300 games already created via the Logitech Gaming Software desktop program. There are no dedicated macro keys, but you can assign macros to the keyboard’s function keys (F1 to F12).

Our review of this keyboard can be read here.

See it

Razer BlackWidow X Tournament Edition Chroma ($130)

Here’s a highly-solid, highly-popular mechanical keyboard from Razer without the number pad. It’s based on the company’s proprietary “Green” switches sporting a tactile and “clicky” feedback. These switches are backed by per-key RGB illumination, and a durability of 80 million keystrokes. They’re installed in a military-grade metal foundation for an attractive, sturdy solution that will last for years to come.

Unlike its larger BlackWidow brothers, this model doesn’t include dedicated macro keys. Instead, you can assign these commands through Razer’s Synapse desktop software. There are no media keys either, so all media-related functions are pushed through the function keys. Other notable features include 1,000Hz ultrapolling, 10 key roll-over, cable management routing, and support for Razer’s Chroma illumination platform, which synchronizes colors and lighting effects across all supported Razer devices.

See it

Best budget keyboard

Corsair Compact K63 ($67)

Here’s another keyboard we like to use in-house. It’s a solid mechanical solution built for easy transportation, and relies on Cherry MX Red switches complemented by a sole red per-key illumination. There’s nothing wrong with having a single color versus a palate of millions: red illumination is better than no lighting at all. The K63’s red lighting is backed by key caps with large fonts so you’re not fighting to locate keys instead of the on-screen opponents.

Due to its size, you won’t find dedicated macro keys. Instead, you can record macros using Corsair’s desktop software called Corsair Utility Engine (CUE). You can also use this software to create profiles that load when assigned to your favorite games, such as pre-determined key illumination, lighting effects, event assignments, key remapping, and more. But Corsair’s keyboard does provide a button to lock the Windows key, a button for setting the illumination at various brightness levels, and dedicated media keys.

You can read our review here.

See it

Best compact keyboard (with numpad!)

Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M RGB ($150)

Technically, keyboards without the number pad (tenkeyless) are compact, but this model is seemingly in its own class. It includes a number pad, but it’s shorter in width than the full-size “large” Pro L RGB version, but wider than the “small” Pro S RGB version. Thus, this “medium” Pro M version seemingly combines the best of both worlds by merging the number pad, arrow keys, and the INS/DEL/END keys together into one solution.

With the Pro M, there are no dedicated macro or media keys. On the macro front, you can assign commands to any key using the built-in “on-the-fly” system as seen with the other two models, or use Cooler Master’s “hassle free” software. Meanwhile, all media controls are piped through the function keys. But like the Pro L and Pro S versions, you get RGB per-key backlighting, a 32-bit processor handling your keystrokes, and silent tactile feedback via Cherry MX Brown switches. Versions served up with Cherry MX Blue, Red, and Silver switches are available as well.

See it

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Your next phone could unlock by reading your lips, ears, or even heart

Who has time in today’s busy world to punch in written pass codes whenever they want to unlock their computer or mobile device? Nobody, that’s who! It’s for this reason that biometric security systems have been on the rise for the past several years — whether it’s fingerprint sensors or Face ID-style facial recognition. Not only are biometrics more secure (it’s a whole lot harder for someone to steal your face than your password), but there’s also no way for you to forget them.

However, while fingerprints and facial recognition are the hot biometric techniques right now, they’re by no means the only solutions available. Here are 7 others that could be keeping our devices secure in the years to come. Maybe.

A moment on the lips

Spoken passwords are all well and good until someone makes a recording of you speaking, or a talented impressionist impersonates you. One extra safeguard to make sure that the pass code speaker is really you? Watch a person’s lips as they speak it.

Researchers have explored a couple different ways to do this. At Hong Kong Baptist University, engineers have developed a computational learning model that examines the visual features of a person’s lips, including shape, texture, and movement.

Meanwhile, at Florida State University in Tallahassee, a similar goal is being pursued using sonar. Called VoiceGesture, the Florida State system effectively turns your smartphone into a Doppler radar, transmitting a high-frequency sound from the device’s speaker and then listening to the reflections on the microphone when a person says their password.

Both approaches can offer an extra level of protection on top of existing voice biometrics.

It’s not what you said, but how you said it

University of Michigan

Another possible solution to voice biometric spoofing is one pioneered by researchers at the University of Michigan. They’ve developed a wearable device — which currently takes the form of a necklace, ear buds, or glasses — and uses an accelerometer to measure the subtle skin vibrations in a person’s face, throat, or chest when they speak.

Finding a way of incorporating it into a consumer-level device may be tough, but it could certainly add another level of security to voice-based biometrics.

It’s all in your “heartprint”

You know those cheesy 1980s movies where a character is told that the way to resolve their angsty teen problem is to listen to their heart? Well, it turns out that the same is true for security — except substituting the words “angsty teen problem” with “biometrics spoofing attack.”

At the State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers have created a heart biometric system that uses Doppler radar (again) to find and receive information about the unique signature of a user’s heart motion and associated traits.

The system is reportedly as safe to use as any other Wi-Fi device, requires just 8 seconds of initial “heart data” to train, and — best of all — can be used for continuous authentication. That means that, rather than asking a user for their password just once when they log in, the system could continually watch to make sure it’s still you who is using it.

The sniff test

Pixabay / Creative Commons

“Smells like you. Come on in!” At least, that’s the basis for research from the Group of Biometrics, Biosignals and Security at the Polytechnical University of Madrid. Their work is based on the fact that everyone has his or her own odor, which remains steady, and this can lead to accurate identification of a person within a group that’s higher than 85 percent.

In theory, a bloodhound-style body odor “sniff test” to ID individuals could be a nonintrusive way to recognize individuals. In practice, a 15 percent error rate would be unacceptably high (compare it to Apple’s reported 1 in 1 million error rate for Face ID) and may be hard to gather in certain environmental conditions. This could turn out to be the basis for promising later research, though.

Butt-based biometrics

Unlocking your new smartphone using your unique butt print sounds like something that even Apple’s marketing wizards would struggle to sell to the masses. But that probably isn’t how this would be used. Pioneered by engineers at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology in Tokyo, the idea is to embed 360 sensors into car seats to analyze the, erm, size, shape, pressure points, and weight distribution of drivers’ posteriors.

Only those with the correct butt can start the car. That’s probably not good for heading back to work after gorging yourself over Christmas — but on the plus side, you could probably combine it with the smell sensor described above to make something hilariously gross.

Good vibrations

One issue with fingerprint sensors is that the actual “sensing” area they work with is typically limited to a small button on either the front or rear of a mobile device. That wouldn’t be the case with a similar finger-reading biometrics system developed by Rutgers University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Their VibWrite system isn’t based on fingerprint recognition, but rather the unique signatures given off by finger vibrations. As a result of not needing fingerprint scanners, the inexpensive system could be applied to any surface — letting you add an authentication element to everything from opening your car door to switching on your desktop computer. Accuracy levels are currently in excess of 95 percent.

What’s going on ear?

What’s the one part of our body that’s virtually guaranteed to be pressed against our phones at some point? No, take your mind out of the gutter, we’re talking about our ears! The idea of ear-based biometrics has been explored for some time, with the idea being that each ear’s unique curves and other features could make for a brilliant fingerprint-style security system.

It’s an intriguing prospect, although having to imprint the side of your head on your smartphone every time you want to unlock it would be more than a little annoying. It would enable your device to continuously authenticate that you’re using the phone whenever you make a call, though!

Editors’ Recommendations

• Is face time over? New biometric tech identifies you through your ‘heartprint’
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Your next phone could unlock by reading your lips, ears, or even heart

Who has time in today’s busy world to punch in written pass codes whenever they want to unlock their computer or mobile device? Nobody, that’s who! It’s for this reason that biometric security systems have been on the rise for the past several years — whether it’s fingerprint sensors or Face ID-style facial recognition. Not only are biometrics more secure (it’s a whole lot harder for someone to steal your face than your password), but there’s also no way for you to forget them.

However, while fingerprints and facial recognition are the hot biometric techniques right now, they’re by no means the only solutions available. Here are 7 others that could be keeping our devices secure in the years to come. Maybe.

A moment on the lips

Spoken passwords are all well and good until someone makes a recording of you speaking, or a talented impressionist impersonates you. One extra safeguard to make sure that the pass code speaker is really you? Watch a person’s lips as they speak it.

Researchers have explored a couple different ways to do this. At Hong Kong Baptist University, engineers have developed a computational learning model that examines the visual features of a person’s lips, including shape, texture, and movement.

Meanwhile, at Florida State University in Tallahassee, a similar goal is being pursued using sonar. Called VoiceGesture, the Florida State system effectively turns your smartphone into a Doppler radar, transmitting a high-frequency sound from the device’s speaker and then listening to the reflections on the microphone when a person says their password.

Both approaches can offer an extra level of protection on top of existing voice biometrics.

It’s not what you said, but how you said it

University of Michigan

Another possible solution to voice biometric spoofing is one pioneered by researchers at the University of Michigan. They’ve developed a wearable device — which currently takes the form of a necklace, ear buds, or glasses — and uses an accelerometer to measure the subtle skin vibrations in a person’s face, throat, or chest when they speak.

Finding a way of incorporating it into a consumer-level device may be tough, but it could certainly add another level of security to voice-based biometrics.

It’s all in your “heartprint”

You know those cheesy 1980s movies where a character is told that the way to resolve their angsty teen problem is to listen to their heart? Well, it turns out that the same is true for security — except substituting the words “angsty teen problem” with “biometrics spoofing attack.”

At the State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers have created a heart biometric system that uses Doppler radar (again) to find and receive information about the unique signature of a user’s heart motion and associated traits.

The system is reportedly as safe to use as any other Wi-Fi device, requires just 8 seconds of initial “heart data” to train, and — best of all — can be used for continuous authentication. That means that, rather than asking a user for their password just once when they log in, the system could continually watch to make sure it’s still you who is using it.

The sniff test

Pixabay / Creative Commons

“Smells like you. Come on in!” At least, that’s the basis for research from the Group of Biometrics, Biosignals and Security at the Polytechnical University of Madrid. Their work is based on the fact that everyone has his or her own odor, which remains steady, and this can lead to accurate identification of a person within a group that’s higher than 85 percent.

In theory, a bloodhound-style body odor “sniff test” to ID individuals could be a nonintrusive way to recognize individuals. In practice, a 15 percent error rate would be unacceptably high (compare it to Apple’s reported 1 in 1 million error rate for Face ID) and may be hard to gather in certain environmental conditions. This could turn out to be the basis for promising later research, though.

Butt-based biometrics

Unlocking your new smartphone using your unique butt print sounds like something that even Apple’s marketing wizards would struggle to sell to the masses. But that probably isn’t how this would be used. Pioneered by engineers at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology in Tokyo, the idea is to embed 360 sensors into car seats to analyze the, erm, size, shape, pressure points, and weight distribution of drivers’ posteriors.

Only those with the correct butt can start the car. That’s probably not good for heading back to work after gorging yourself over Christmas — but on the plus side, you could probably combine it with the smell sensor described above to make something hilariously gross.

Good vibrations

One issue with fingerprint sensors is that the actual “sensing” area they work with is typically limited to a small button on either the front or rear of a mobile device. That wouldn’t be the case with a similar finger-reading biometrics system developed by Rutgers University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Their VibWrite system isn’t based on fingerprint recognition, but rather the unique signatures given off by finger vibrations. As a result of not needing fingerprint scanners, the inexpensive system could be applied to any surface — letting you add an authentication element to everything from opening your car door to switching on your desktop computer. Accuracy levels are currently in excess of 95 percent.

What’s going on ear?

What’s the one part of our body that’s virtually guaranteed to be pressed against our phones at some point? No, take your mind out of the gutter, we’re talking about our ears! The idea of ear-based biometrics has been explored for some time, with the idea being that each ear’s unique curves and other features could make for a brilliant fingerprint-style security system.

It’s an intriguing prospect, although having to imprint the side of your head on your smartphone every time you want to unlock it would be more than a little annoying. It would enable your device to continuously authenticate that you’re using the phone whenever you make a call, though!

Editors’ Recommendations

• Is face time over? New biometric tech identifies you through your ‘heartprint’
• Forget Face ID, VoiceGesture reads your lips with sonar to unlock your phone
• VibWrite can transform any surface into a secure biometric ID sensor
• Honeywell’s Smart Home Security System gives you an easy way to guard your home
• The Sensoria Smart Running Shoes bring high tech to your feet

Your next phone could unlock by reading your lips, ears, or even heart

Who has time in today’s busy world to punch in written pass codes whenever they want to unlock their computer or mobile device? Nobody, that’s who! It’s for this reason that biometric security systems have been on the rise for the past several years — whether it’s fingerprint sensors or Face ID-style facial recognition. Not only are biometrics more secure (it’s a whole lot harder for someone to steal your face than your password), but there’s also no way for you to forget them.

However, while fingerprints and facial recognition are the hot biometric techniques right now, they’re by no means the only solutions available. Here are 7 others that could be keeping our devices secure in the years to come. Maybe.

A moment on the lips

Spoken passwords are all well and good until someone makes a recording of you speaking, or a talented impressionist impersonates you. One extra safeguard to make sure that the pass code speaker is really you? Watch a person’s lips as they speak it.

Researchers have explored a couple different ways to do this. At Hong Kong Baptist University, engineers have developed a computational learning model that examines the visual features of a person’s lips, including shape, texture, and movement.

Meanwhile, at Florida State University in Tallahassee, a similar goal is being pursued using sonar. Called VoiceGesture, the Florida State system effectively turns your smartphone into a Doppler radar, transmitting a high-frequency sound from the device’s speaker and then listening to the reflections on the microphone when a person says their password.

Both approaches can offer an extra level of protection on top of existing voice biometrics.

It’s not what you said, but how you said it

University of Michigan

Another possible solution to voice biometric spoofing is one pioneered by researchers at the University of Michigan. They’ve developed a wearable device — which currently takes the form of a necklace, ear buds, or glasses — and uses an accelerometer to measure the subtle skin vibrations in a person’s face, throat, or chest when they speak.

Finding a way of incorporating it into a consumer-level device may be tough, but it could certainly add another level of security to voice-based biometrics.

It’s all in your “heartprint”

You know those cheesy 1980s movies where a character is told that the way to resolve their angsty teen problem is to listen to their heart? Well, it turns out that the same is true for security — except substituting the words “angsty teen problem” with “biometrics spoofing attack.”

At the State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers have created a heart biometric system that uses Doppler radar (again) to find and receive information about the unique signature of a user’s heart motion and associated traits.

The system is reportedly as safe to use as any other Wi-Fi device, requires just 8 seconds of initial “heart data” to train, and — best of all — can be used for continuous authentication. That means that, rather than asking a user for their password just once when they log in, the system could continually watch to make sure it’s still you who is using it.

The sniff test

Pixabay / Creative Commons

“Smells like you. Come on in!” At least, that’s the basis for research from the Group of Biometrics, Biosignals and Security at the Polytechnical University of Madrid. Their work is based on the fact that everyone has his or her own odor, which remains steady, and this can lead to accurate identification of a person within a group that’s higher than 85 percent.

In theory, a bloodhound-style body odor “sniff test” to ID individuals could be a nonintrusive way to recognize individuals. In practice, a 15 percent error rate would be unacceptably high (compare it to Apple’s reported 1 in 1 million error rate for Face ID) and may be hard to gather in certain environmental conditions. This could turn out to be the basis for promising later research, though.

Butt-based biometrics

Unlocking your new smartphone using your unique butt print sounds like something that even Apple’s marketing wizards would struggle to sell to the masses. But that probably isn’t how this would be used. Pioneered by engineers at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology in Tokyo, the idea is to embed 360 sensors into car seats to analyze the, erm, size, shape, pressure points, and weight distribution of drivers’ posteriors.

Only those with the correct butt can start the car. That’s probably not good for heading back to work after gorging yourself over Christmas — but on the plus side, you could probably combine it with the smell sensor described above to make something hilariously gross.

Good vibrations

One issue with fingerprint sensors is that the actual “sensing” area they work with is typically limited to a small button on either the front or rear of a mobile device. That wouldn’t be the case with a similar finger-reading biometrics system developed by Rutgers University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Their VibWrite system isn’t based on fingerprint recognition, but rather the unique signatures given off by finger vibrations. As a result of not needing fingerprint scanners, the inexpensive system could be applied to any surface — letting you add an authentication element to everything from opening your car door to switching on your desktop computer. Accuracy levels are currently in excess of 95 percent.

What’s going on ear?

What’s the one part of our body that’s virtually guaranteed to be pressed against our phones at some point? No, take your mind out of the gutter, we’re talking about our ears! The idea of ear-based biometrics has been explored for some time, with the idea being that each ear’s unique curves and other features could make for a brilliant fingerprint-style security system.

It’s an intriguing prospect, although having to imprint the side of your head on your smartphone every time you want to unlock it would be more than a little annoying. It would enable your device to continuously authenticate that you’re using the phone whenever you make a call, though!

Editors’ Recommendations

• Is face time over? New biometric tech identifies you through your ‘heartprint’
• Forget Face ID, VoiceGesture reads your lips with sonar to unlock your phone
• VibWrite can transform any surface into a secure biometric ID sensor
• Honeywell’s Smart Home Security System gives you an easy way to guard your home
• The Sensoria Smart Running Shoes bring high tech to your feet

Deako is a smart lighting system that doesn’t require smart bulbs

When people think about the design of their home, their minds often go first to the furniture, decor, and appliances. One oft-overlooked factor that determines whether a house feels homey is the lighting. Too bright lighting can give residents a headache, while too dim lighting can cause squinting and bumping into things. Having proper lighting in the home can improve the mood and efficiency of those who live in the house, whether you’re going for a spooky effect for Halloween or a practical solution to prevent tripping. While many smart lighting systems require smart lightbulbs in order to function properly, Deako doesn’t. What’s more is that this smart lighting system allows you to control the lights in your home with or without your mobile device.

The Smart Dimmer, priced at $90, and the Smart Switch, priced at $65, can be controlled with your voice or the Deako mobile app. This means you can control the smart lighting system even if you don’t have your phone handy. Want to save the current lighting scene so that you don’t have to reconfigure it every time? Simply use the app to save up to three at once. For the dimmer, you can slide your finger to adjust the brightness, or use the up and down arrow buttons to adjust it more acutely. The dimmer also supports schedules and countdown timers for added personalization.

With Deako, each faceplate you install can support up to five switches, with the option of adding an outlet as well. This way, you can personalize the switches to each room in the home, and add outlets depending on how often devices are charged in a specific room.

The Deako website explains that the company was born out of necessity: “After researching and living with partial solutions, we realized people really needed an easily upgradable lighting system. People also needed to be able to control the switches with or without their mobile device. The team set about making the idea into a tangible reality — and making it look beautiful while being affordable.”

Bloomberg named Deako one of the 50 most promising startups in 2017.

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A.I. predicts how you vote by looking at where you live on Google Street View

Google Maps’ Street View feature is a great way to explore the world around you, but could it be revealing more about your neighborhood than you think? That’s quite possible, suggests new research coming out of Stanford University. Computer science researchers there have been demonstrated how deep learning artificial intelligence can scour the images on Google Street View and draw conclusions about issues like the political leaning of a particular area — just by looking at the cars parked out on the street.

“We wanted to show that useful insight can be gained from images, the same way people do this for social networks or other textual-based data,” Timnit Gebru, one of the lead researchers on the paper, told Digital Trends. “Some of the car-politics or car-race associations were intuitive, but still surprising that we could capture from our data.”

The deep learning neural network was trained on a dataset of more than 50 million Google Street View images from a variety of cities. This data was then compared to ground census data to help the algorithm make the right connections between race, education, income and voter preferences, and the make, model and year of every car produced since 1990. The artificial intelligence uncovered a number of intriguing tidbits — such as the fact that if the number of sedans in a neighborhood is greater than the number of pickups, there is an 88 percent chance the precinct votes Democrat. More pickups than sedans on your street? That means there’s an 82 percent chance you’re in Republican territory.

While Google is unlikely to add “likely voter demographic” as a tool on Street View anytime soon, the research demonstrates how impressive modern A.I. is — not just in identifying objects, but also at drawing actionable conclusions from this information. As Gebru points out, similar research could be used for exploring things like the links between neighborhoods and health or pollution levels.

A paper describing the work, “Using deep learning and Google Street View to estimate the demographic makeup of neighborhoods across the United States,” was recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Editors’ Recommendations

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