According to Zhanpeng Jin, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, EarEcho is a modified wireless earbud that can authenticate smartphone users via the unique geometry of their ear canal.
A prototype of the system has proved roughly 95% effective.
When a sound is played into someone’s ear, the sound propagates through and is reflected and absorbed by the ear canal -- all of which produces a unique signature that can be recorded by the microphone.
“It doesn’t matter what the sound is, everyone’s ears are different and we can show that in the audio recording,” said Jin. “This uniqueness can lead to a new way of confirming the identity of the user, equivalent to fingerprinting.”
The information gathered by the microphone is sent by the earbuds’ Bluetooth connection to the smartphone where it is analysed.
Theoretically, users could rely on EarEcho to unlock their smartphones, thereby reducing the need for passcodes, fingerprints, facial recognition and other biometrics.
However, Jin sees its greatest potential use in continuously monitoring a smartphone user. EarEcho, which works when users are listening to their earbuds, is a passive system, meaning users need not take any action, such as submitting a fingerprint or voice command, for it to work, he said.
Such a system, he argued, would be ideal for situations where users are required to verify their identity such as making mobile payments. It could also eliminate the need to re-enter passcodes or fingerprints when a phone locks up after not being used.
