Canary security device.. (via Canary)
With the recent outing of the NSA’s secret programs, it is clear that the US government takes national security gravely seriously. Head over to any government facility and you will likely see (and not see) some standard security measures such as security cameras, armed guards and card locks on all doors. The more important the facility, the more measures they have in place. Security is not lost on private citizens either, as more people are looking for ways to secure their homes even though some may be budget limited. These measures go beyond simply putting an ADT sign in their front yard (unless they actually have the system) and using a dead bolt on the front door. Some people have CCTV and monitoring systems that record both inside and outside their homes, others have wireless monitoring setups that alert authorities if their homes are broken into, while still others rely simply on firearms for home protection. While those systems may be expensive, some companies are catering to the budget minded with more affordable security devices that won’t break the bank!
One such company has crowd-funded their device on Kickstarter, dubbed the Canary, packing most of the features large, complex systems into one tiny package. The device houses a suite of sensors that actively monitor its surroundings and ‘looks’ for anything out of the ordinary. If something sets it off, it sends a wireless alert to the user’s mobile device and allows them to take the appropriate action. Canary packs some impressive features for a device with a relatively small footprint and includes an HD video camera with night vision capability to capture images unwanted intruders. It also features a motion detector, temperature, humidity, air quality sensors as well as a high-quality microphone that not only detects home invaders but also is capable of detecting disasters such as fires or flooding. Not bad for something costing only $199 US, which is a fraction of the cost of lime-light systems. The old adage still applies however, as nothing is completely secure and there is always some way to circumvent almost any security measures. Just ask anyone who’s attending one of two ‘hacker’ conventions being held in Las Vegas. Attendees at both Defcon and Black Hat come together to demonstrate their skills and new found techniques at hacking everything from picking locks to hijacking automobile onboard computers. (Side note: a 12 year old girl currently holds the crown at cracking locks).These conventions are not to be scoffed at as the director of the NSA (General Keith Alexander) gave a keynote speech on surveillance programs at this year’s Black Hat convention. Actually, when the director addressed the audience and stated that the agency stands for ‘freedom’ a lone audience member shouted ‘bull@#%*!,’ followed by a sea of applause. The General went on to describe how their monitoring programs had prevented terrorist attacks. Whether people agree or disagree with what the NSA is doing, one thing is for sure in that we’ll never know what other projects three-letter agencies are running and what the outcome of those projects will be.
While there are some devices developed and manufactured solely for the purpose of security, other devices are developed more as a novelty but could be used for defensive applications. One such device, apply named Surround-See, has been developed by some students from the University of Alberta and the University of Manitoba. The device has a 3600 Dot camera attachment (from kogeto) mounted to the forward-facing camera on a HTC Butterfly smartphone. Yes, the attachment allows for images and video to be recorded in 360 degrees but the respective students have designed a corresponding app that allows it to track individuals and objects in the user’s immediate surroundings. The students, led by PH.D student Xing-Dong Yang, developed an Android-based app that is not only capable of tracking objects but also has the capability to recognize gestures, which allows users to interact with their mobile devices almost as Microsoft’s Kinect does. The app can control the user’s laptops or mobile devices through gestures such as pinch and swipe to navigate and interact the device’s settings and programs. The app also lets users know not to forget the device when they walk away by ‘asking’ them if they want to do so. If users choose to leave their device, they can simply use a sweeping hand gesture that sets the device to voicemail mode. While their system isn’t intended to be used as a security-monitoring device, it could be used to do so by being able to see and track suspects even if they are situated behind the user. This could be especially beneficial for women who have to commute through dark parking lots or parks to get back and forth to work as most assaults happen quite frequently in those areas.
Sounds to me like we are in the infancy of a 100% watched world. It has a good side, safety… but it can also be abused. Where are you on this matter?
C
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