Soon, replace your passwords with your thoughts - Indian Express

PTI : Washington, Wed Apr 10 2013, 15:26 hrs You may be spared from typing pesky passwords in the future. Instead of typing your password, you may only have to think about it, thanks to a new wireless headset device developed by researchers. Remembering passwords for all your sites can get annoying. There are only so many punctuation, number substitutes and uppercase variations you can recall, and writing them down for all to find is hardly an option. Researchers at the University of California Berkeley School of Information developed the device that explores the feasibility of brainwave-based computer authentication as a substitute for passwords. By measuring brain-waves with bio-sensor technology, researchers are able to replace passwords with "passthoughts" for computer authentication, website 'Mashable' reported. A USD 100 headset wirelessly connects to a computer via Bluetooth, and the device's sensor rests against the user's forehead, providing a electroencephalogram (EEG) signal from the brain. The NeuroSky Mindset looks just like any other Bluetooth set and is more user-friendly, researchers said. Brainwaves are also unique to each individual, so even if someone knew your passthought, their emitted EEG signals would be different. "Other than the EEG sensor, the headset is indistinguishable from a conventional Bluetooth headset for use with mobile phones, music players, and other computing devices," according to the researchers. Participants, in a series of tests, completed seven different mental tasks with the device, including imagining their finger moving up and down and choosing a personalized secret, the report said. Simple actions like focusing on breathing or on a thought for ten seconds resulted in successful authentication. "We find that brainwave signals, even those collected using low-cost non-intrusive EEG sensors in everyday settings, can be used to authenticate users with high degrees of accuracy," the researchers concluded. ALSO READ Google to invest $390 mn in data center in Belgium Microsoft assault on Google shows industry shift Microsoft, Nokia demand EU action over Google's Android Fresh GSLV launch attempt in July Please read our terms of use before posting comments TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s). via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNE7UGYvymT4tXBNf9TMwWt_MWPvFw&url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/soon-replace-your-passwords-with-your-thoughts/1100352/

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