The new Sixth Sense
technology will enable
security forces to identify
suspicious behavior and
objects using two simple
video cameras. Photo:
Bamahane magazine
Monday, 1 November 2010
Sixth Sense in the War on Terrorism
The new Sixth Sense technology will enable security forces to identify
suspicious behavior and objects using two simple video cameras.
Nathanael Roseman, Bamahane magazine 31 October 2010 , 13:29
Forces specialized in fighting terror as well as security officials will
soon acquire a sixth sense: though it sounds like science fiction, it’s
actually new technology for preemptive action against terror attacks and
crime.
The system, manufactured by Ness Technologies, will identify suspicious
activity in allotted areas and will thus alert of any unusual activity which
could lead to acts of terrorism.
The project, dubbed Sixth Sense, was recently developed by the Israeli
Ministry of Defense’s Administration for the Development of Weapons and
Technological Infrastructure (Maf’at).
The new technology creates a three dimensional scan of a given area using
two simple video cameras. By interpreting the information composed of people
and objects, the system creates the normal image of an area, indicating
change in the event of unusual activity. A man standing in the same place
for a long time, a car driving in an unlikely direction or strange objects
are all examples of the signs that will raise a red flag. In the event of
unusual activity, the system marks the suspicious objects with a red square,
such that a guard will be able to examine the area.
“Like in the movies, the problem is that most places are equipped with
security cameras but it is very hard to see what’s going on and identify
dangerous activity in the moment of truth”, explained Deborah Avi Sira,
Director of the Fusion, Information and Simulation division at Ness. “Today,
in every act of terrorism there is secret preparation that can be detected.
In the moment of truth, it will be possible to alert security forces within
seconds and prevent a disaster.” The system is unique in that it “learns”
the daily routine in a given area and sounds the alarm if an unusual event
occurs.
Ness Technologies began developing the system after a soldier was stabbed
three years ago in the Old City in Jerusalem. On the videotape recording of
the event, the attacker could be seen suspiciously walking around the area
for several minutes– activity likely indicating an attack which could have
been detected by and notified using the ‘Sixth Sense’.
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