Computer vision for all your secret agent needs
30 10 2008By Joshua Koopferstock
Spies rejoice! Computer vision scientists at UC San Diego have devised a way to create a duplicate of a key using a only one digital photo, apparently taken in normal conditions.
By identifying a few “key” points (lame pun intended) in the photograph, the researchers are able to extract all the information required by a locksmith to make a copy of that key. So, to all our loyal readers in the secret agent and espionage professions, send this report to your R&D department today and get this mildly amusing incredibly practical technology out of the labs!
Read the full article here.
Interesting, but the key used in this experiment is vulnerable to bumping, which is by far easier for a burglar. More sophisticated keys aren’t so easy (if at all possible) to reproduce by an image.
It looks like you’re right, bersi, and thanks for the interesting link.