Duke students invent "wisdom door"

Although we often report about methods of securing critical facilities by means of biometric access control, not every entrance requires such a procedure. That is why students at Duke University have developed a sensor-riddled door that can recognize passers-through by the shape of their body. According to the students, who clearly have partying on the brain, the Wisdom Door could not only provide security but could also be installed as part of a “smart house” — with each person’s particular music and light settings turning on when they entered the room. “Anything that is electronic can be controlled. When you wake up in the morning, it could automatically start the coffee maker for you,” said project manager Kareem Lee.

How it works: Using nine sensors in total, an ultrasonic device at the door frame beams a light downward, with the delay in the return signal indicating the subject’s height. At the same time, four infrared signals on the sides measure width and girth, while another four load sensors in the floor calculate the person’s weight. The data is then compiled to produce a biometric record. “This type of system would be nice as verification, especially if used in tandem with an RFID card. It can be a powerful mechanism,” said professor Arun Ross of West Virginia University, noting that the system might be attractive to those who find fingerprinting and eye scanning to be overly intrusive. There is one problem, however: the system cannot recognize people if they are wearing high heels or bulky coats. “The way the sensors are designed, they measure what they see. That would be a slight disadvantage,” said Ross.

-read more in Tracy Staedter’s Discovery News report