Why worry about watching the watchmen when you can become one yourself? Safety Dynamics - an Illinois company that's installing a network of smart gunshot detectors for the city of Chicago - plans to market cell phone-sized units to consumers. The Smart Sensor Enabled Neural Threat Recognition and Identification system, or Sentri, uses microphones and a time-phased acoustic pattern modeled on the human brain to listen for specific sounds, then dials 911. The military is funding research into mobile versions to listen for human presence and firearms being loaded. The consumer models due out in 2006 will be even more versatile, able to listen for sounds programmed on interchangeable SIM cards. A Sentri in your car with a digicam and a "breaking glass" card could add heft to an otherwise useless crime report when your CD player goes AWOL. Expect to spend about $300 per gadget, a small price to pay for your own police state.
- Erika Stalder
All ears: The Sentri listens to the streets in Chicago.
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