Home > Press > Smart keyboard cleans and powers itself -- and can tell who you are
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A smart keyboard that can tell who you are could help boost cybersecurity. Credit: American Chemical Society |
Abstract:
In a novel twist in cybersecurity, scientists have developed a self-cleaning, self-powered smart keyboard that can identify computer users by the way they type. The device, reported in the journal ACS Nano, could help prevent unauthorized users from gaining direct access to computers.
Zhong Lin Wang and colleagues note that password protection is one of the most common ways we control who can log onto our computers -- and see the private information we entrust to them. But as many recent high-profile stories about hacking and fraud have demonstrated, passwords are themselves vulnerable to theft. So Wang's team set out to find a more secure but still cost-effective and user-friendly approach to safeguarding what's on our computers.
The researchers developed a smart keyboard that can sense typing patterns -- including the pressure applied to keys and speed -- that can accurately distinguish one individual user from another. So even if someone knows your password, he or she cannot access your computer because that person types in a different way than you would. It also can harness the energy generated from typing to either power itself or another small device. And the special surface coating repels dirt and grime. The scientists conclude that the keyboard could provide an additional layer of protection to boost the security of our computer systems.
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The authors acknowledge funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.
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About American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 161,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Michael Bernstein
202-872-6042
Zhong Lin Wang, Ph.D.
School of Materials Science and Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA 30332
Copyright © American Chemical Society
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