Echolocation For Your Cell Phone

sciencehabit writes "In a few years, an iPhone app may give you a 3D layout of a room as soon as you step into it. Researchers have developed an algorithm that spits out the shape and contours of complex structures (including Switzerland's Lausanne Cathedral) using data compiled from four randomly placed microphones. The technology, which relies on the same sort of echolocation bats and dolphins use to navigate, could be used to develop more realistic echoes in video games and virtual reality simulations and to eliminate the echo from phone calls."

The full paper is available here

[DrJimbo]

From the web page of one of the authors [harvard.edu]: Acoustic echoes reveal room shape [harvard.edu] (pdf).

Re:but what of the privacy implications?!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple collects and stores all of your searches, sells location information to the highest bidder, and could give a flying fuck through a rolling doughnut about your privacy.

I think you're confusing Apple with Google.

Google doesn't sell data, it uses it. You can decide which one is worse.