[ The World Times ] Privacy Bracelets

Prevent Virtual Assistants From Eavesdropping

 

Virtual assistants have become popular in recent years thanks to the convenience of being able to complete tasks without lifting a finger. They are activated when someone says a "wake word," which is usually simply the name of the assistant, and then begin listening to every word the user says. Unfortunately, they also turn on upon hearing anything similar to their wake word, meaning that many virtual assistants listen in on much more than their owners want them to hear.

 

After hearing about cases in which virtual assistants inadvertently recorded private conversations, a pair of computer science professors at the University of Chicago in the U.S. decided to invent a way for people to defend against the intrusion. They developed a wearable device they call the "bracelet of silence," which, as the name suggests, is a metal ring worn on the wrist. Unlike a normal bracelet, this one is covered in 24 speakers that emit ultrasonic waves in all different directions. Although the sound waves are inaudible to most people, electronic microphones will pick up the sound above all others, resulting in a static-like recording.

 

Though the prototype is clunky, the technology could be useful in the future. As the world becomes more connected, we will inevitably be surrounded by devices that could record us without our knowledge. For people uncomfortable with that reality, the best defense is a good offense, and devices like the bracelet of silence could one day be the only way to truly have a private conversation.

 

*eavesdrop v. 엿듣다, 도청하다

*eavesdropping n. 엿듣기, 도청

*bracelet n. 팔찌(=bangle, wristlet)

*not lift/raise a finger/hand (to do something) (~을 하기 위해) 손가락도 까딱하지 않다. / 노력을 전혀 안하다. 

*lift a hand(finger) (~ 하려고) 노력하다. 애쓰다. 

*inadvertently ad. 무심코, 우연히, 부주의로, 의도하지 않게

*inadvertent a. 고의가 아닌, 우연의, 의도하지 않은 / (사람.성격이) 부주의한, 소홀한, 경솔한

*intrusion n. (개인 사생활 등에 대한) 침범, 침해(하는것) / (무단) 침입, 마음대로 들어감. 

*emit v. (빛.열.가스.소리 등을) 내다 (내뿜다)

*static a. (변화움직임없이) 고정된 / 정지 상태의 

           n. (수신기의) 잡음.

*clunky a. 투박한

*inevitably ad. 필연적이다시피, 필연적으로, 불가피하게

*inevitable a. 불가피한, 필연적인