Shadow Analysis Could Spot Terrorists

Hugh Pickens writes "An engineer at Jet Propulsion Labs says it should be possible to identify people from the way they walk — a technique called gait analysis, whose power lies in the fact that a person's walking style is very hard to disguise. Adrian Stoica has written software that recognizes human movement in aerial and satellite video footage by isolating moving shadows and using data on the time of day and the camera angle to correct shadows that are elongated or foreshortened. In tests on footage shot from the sixth floor of a building, Stoica says his software was indeed able to extract useful gait data. Extending the idea to satellites could prove trickier, though. Space imaging expert Bhupendra Jasani at King's College London says geostationary satellites simply don't have the resolution to provide useful detail. 'I find it hard to believe they could apply this technique from space,' says Jasani." Comments on the article speculate on the maximum resolution possible from KH-11 and KH-12 spy satellites.

Re:Upon deployment....

[ByOhTek]

OK students, today we practice 'Ballet of the Bombs', everyone have their 6-pack strapped on?

Finally, the truth!

[kvezach]

An engineer at Jet Propulsion Labs says it should be possible to identify people from the way they walk -- a technique called gait analysis, whose power lies in the fact that a person's walking style is very hard to disguise.

I knew it! The Ministry of Silly Walks is really just a subdivision of MI6!

Obviously...

[Anonymous Coward]

An engineer at Jet Propulsion Labs says it should be possible to identify people from the way they walk -- [...]

Obviously, but this isn't exactly rocket science.

Well, that's easy.

[Minwee]

Just point at the screen and say "Enhance this part!" There you go. If there's something in the way, like a rock, tree, or the roof of a building, just say "Enhance it again" and you'll get all the resolution you need.

If that isn't good enough for you then maybe you could create a GUI interface using Visual Basic [youtube.com] to do the job for you.

Would TV lie to me about this kind of thing?

Ministry of Silly Walks

[Xian97]

I guess the Ministry of Silly Walks will be accused of aiding and abetting terrorists...

Re:Useful data?

[cbiltcliffe]

No shit. Next they'll be saying they can identify terrorists by their haircut. Or the school they went to. Or the colour of their front door. Or the explosive vest strapped to their chest. Oh....wait.....

So if it..

[pkboy]

So if it looks like a terrorist, talks like a terrorist, and now walks like a terrorist, it is a terrorist? We should find a way to see how they taste and smell..

Re:So if it..

[Merls the Sneaky]

taste and smell..

"Excuse me,natalie portman, you have been selected for a random terrorist check, step behind the screen while our terrorism expert tastes you. "

"Does she taste like hot grits?! "

Re:Defeated

[Yungoe]

So every one that leans to one side is also a suspected terrorist.

Re:Well, that's easy.

[Don_dumb]

Would TV lie to me about this kind of thing?

Does TV say its lying to you?

Re:So if it..

[Don_dumb]

So if it looks like a terrorist, talks like a terrorist, and now walks like a terrorist, it is a terrorist? We should find a way to see how they taste and smell..

I'm guessing - almonds.

Re:Upon deployment....

[dwarg]

I never go anywhere without a six-pack and a strap-on.

step...slide....step step....pause...

[tyler.willard]

Walk Fremen style and you can stay incognito and avoid Shai-Hulud all at the same time.

Re:Upon deployment....

[knutkracker]

(Score:2, Insightful)

I never go anywhere without a six-pack and a strap-on.

Insightful?? I shudder to think what that mod considers funny.

Re:Upon deployment....

[hotdiggitydawg]

Not to mention the Brothers Gibb, whose extensive research led them to develop a way of using ones walk to demonstrate the fact that you were a woman's man, no time to talk...

Re:Upon deployment....

[EMeta]

Nothing has ever needed modding up like this post does.

Re:Upon deployment....

[Kingrames]

In my day, all we had was tappa tappa tappa!

Re:Upon deployment....

[catmistake]

And of course the anthropological studies of Bangles Labs who uncovered the ancient lost method of bipedal transportation common to the natives 6 millenia ago in the Nile Basin of Noth East Africa...

Re:Upon deployment....

[meringuoid]

Well, while we're on the subject, I once met a girl hitch-hiking across country. Came from Miami apparently. Something didn't seem quite right about her, but when I asked about it I couldn't hear the answer because of all the coloured girls going doo, doo doo, doo doo, doo doo doo doo...

Re:Upon deployment....

[msulis]

i think the mod should stand, and we should develop a way to mod the mod itself +5 funny

Ever Vigilant

[CorporateSuit]

Watching 6-7 billion people walk is out of the question for the satellites to cover. So, they specialize in spotting certain gaits before zeroing in and analyzing. Specifically, long, low strides, with one arm out in front, bent at the elbow, sashing a cape (possibly hiding a round, long-fused bomb). The other hand, if twirling a long moustache or rubbing the front brim of a black fedora, will tip off the satellite that it is, in fact, looking at a villain. The tracking of shifty eyes and maniacal cackling were removed for technological shortcomings... and the satellites kept targeting congress.

During testing, the engineers were proud to report the satellite alarmed them to several instances of women being tied to railroad tracks, banks being robbed, and suckers being stolen from infants. When a satellite makes a positive match to one of these terrorists, it will broadcast staccato piano music in a minor key to the area. Citizens are expected to boo and hiss these men if the satellites begin alerting them of their terrorist ways.

Tinfoil hats (obligatory)

[poliopteragriseoapte]

Ha! I was sure to be right to wear a tinfoil hat! Now I just have to make sure it is wide-brimmed.