Your Smartphone can be used as a key logger?

Researchers at GT have discovered with an 80% success rate that an iPhone 4 can be used to "feel" your keystrokes.
This new technology use is obviously not what the accelerometer and gyroscope were designed for, but offers even more of a requirement for why users should protect their smart phones and also not allow their phones inside secure facilities.
I was interested in the potential applications on some of the work that I currently do in the government as well.  Using these sensitive sensors in different unintended applications definitely holds interesting value since their use has driven their costs down.


http://gcn.com/articles/2011/10/18/smart-phone-sensors-steal-keystrokes.aspx?s=gcndaily_191011

Grocery Applications

During the summer's capstone idea generation many individuals thought up ideas for expanding the use of mobile tech in grocery applications.  This article shows that many groceries are thinking the same thing. Home delivery of groceries is already available.  This step shows that it is going to quickly be possible to scan as you go without the extra costs of scanners that some stores have taken to.  While not a totally new idea of scanning on the go, it definitely is the convergence of two separate technologies.

WASHINGTON - At most supermarkets, a cashier rings up items or patrons run items through a scanner themselves. Soon, both practices may be obsolete.

Through a pilot program, Stop and Shop grocers are allowing customers at three stores in Massachusetts to scan their purchases with their iPhones as they go, pay on their phones and leave without waiting in any lines.

Many grocery store chains like Wegmans, Giant and Food Lion also offer free smartphone applications, allowing shoppers to find stores, check the latest specials and create an electronic shopping list. Some even allow customers to refill prescriptions or place an order at the deli counter.

The Wall Street Journal reports Stop and Shop plans to bring it to more stores soon, and at least two other large but un-named supermarket chains are getting ready to roll out similar apps.

Stop and Shop is owned by the same company as Giant Food, which operates a number of stores in the D.C. region.