Feds Seek to Identify People by Odor

The Associated Press ^ | DECEMBER 19, 2002 | Jim Krane

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Pentagon wants to sniff out fugitives — literally.

The federal agency that created the Internet now challenges scientists to create a detector that could identify people by their unique, genetically determined odor.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency said this week that it's offering $3.2 million next year to find out if it's even possible. Proposals are due Jan. 29.

Researchers have shown that mice release a urinary odor that is genetically unique, DARPA says. It's based on the combination of acids found in varying concentrations.

So if it's possible to detect an individual mouse, why not a human by the smell of his or her urine or sweat?

If scientists can prove that it works within two and a half years, DARPA wants to build a prototype within six years, spokeswoman Jan Walker said.

Such a detector would essentially allow on-the-fly DNA identification, measuring and collecting yet another biometric, or identifying characteristic of the human body, Walker said.

Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists, a Washington group that circulated news of DARPA's proposal, warns that such a detector — if it were ever built — might be confused by myriad and changing odors that people exude.

``It would be like trying to detect an individual's fingerprints through a pair of gloves,'' Aftergood said.

The smeller isn't DARPA's first attempt at artificial nose. The unit's Dog's Nose Program works on sensors to detect the TNT in buried land mines without risking the lives of sniffer dogs.

—Jim Krane, AP technology writer

———

On the Net:

http://www.aro.army.mil/research/odortypedetection.pdf

[dirtboy]

Add this to the bill that will kill off TIA (and spank the clueless dolts at DARPA). Depending upon how it would be used, this device could easily amount to a warrantless search.

[mhking]

This idea smells fishy....

---

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[Publius]

A new category of political correctness: People of Odor. Otherwise known as the French.

[boris]

The East German Stazi had a similar program. They stored bottles of "odor" for hundreds or thousands of citizens. I believe they trained dogs to find persons based on their stored "odors".

The claim was that if you stood in one spot for a few minutes on, say, a linoleum floor, they could collect your "odor" and catalog it.

I dunno.

--Boris

[areafiftyone]

ROFLMAO - they should start with the Homeless in New York City. PEEEEWW!!!

[freeeee]

Stasi Museum

"The exhibits are housed in part of the old Stasi (East German secret police) headquarters. About a month after the Berlin Wall came down, East German citizens occupied Stasi buildings here and in other cities to prevent officials from destroying documents. Anyone can apply to see their Stasi file."

"These really made an impression on me. Our guide called them "odor fingerprints". The example he gave was of a doctor being told to wipe a piece of fabric over a patient. The fabric would then be preserved so that if the person disappeared he or she could be tracked by dogs."

Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

[ThatsEnough]

Or POO for short.

[APBaer]

I wouldn't piss in his mouth
if his heart were on fire.

[Desdemona]

Isn't this the purpose of bloodhounds? They're a bargain in comparison, too.

[Lokibob]

I can see it now, you insert your "Homeland Security Card" in the handy slot over the urinal, you are approved, and the lid opens. The sniffer starts and your computer file records the new updated smell.

Taking this a step further, it detects drugs, alcohol, last sexual encounter, medical problems, and cholosteral level. The data is sent to a satellite which beams it down to your implanted chip.

TINFOIL BEANY TIME.

[dirtboy]

The federal agency that created the Internet now challenges scientists to create a detector that could identify people by their unique, genetically determined odor.

Just be sure to keep it away from Ol' Crusty. That would fry even the most hardened circuitry...

[w_over_w]

Excuse me but there are only THREE human scents:

• Fresh out of the shower
• Starting to go
• Your underwear could stand up in the corner

[RooRoobird14]

A-HAH!!I was right!!! I knew this would happen!!

It only took the first four posts on this thread before THE FRENCH were mentioned!!!!!

BWHAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!!!!

[dirtboy]

You left out the fourth scent on the scale:

French...

[sonofatpatcher2]

Looks like we'll be able to track Osama Bin now.

[amused]

LOL.

Headline of the NY Post

"Cheese Eatin Surrender Monkeys Profiled Due to BO"

[freeeee]

Looks like we'll be able to track Osama Bin now.

If Osama, Saddam and every other jihad bad guy showed up and turned themselves in tomorrow, this project would still go forward.

The only thing terrorism has to do with this is its use as a convenient excuse to unleash Big Brother.

This is about control, not security.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Track me by my smell?

Naw! My Mammy told me I smelled like the pure, driven snow...

[w_over_w]

French...

If that's the same scent that burns your eyebrows right off your face . . . don't you have to be dead?