Researchers create smart bracelet to log in and out of computers

Researchers at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire have created a bracelet that allows users to log in to computers and, above all, log them out when they leave. According to the researchers, the latter solves a security problem.

The intention is that users wear the bracelet on their wrist and the computer can identify them as constantly as they are in front of the computer. The bracelet contains a gyroscope, tilt sensor and the option for a wireless connection. When the user gets up and leaves, the bracelet can pass this on to the computer, which then logs the user out, the researchers write in their paper.

The authentication is done via bluetooth. The sensors then track the user’s movement 500 times per second. According to the researchers, the bracelet can also be used for other applications where users provide input with their hands, such as a remote control for the TV. It is less about security than about usability. There are no images of the bracelet, which the scientists call Zero-Effort Bilateral Recurring Authentication, abbreviated ZEBRA.