4 ms·

> Private > Soli is not a camera and doesn’t capture any visual images. This is a privacy misconception that really needs to die (something also discussed in

> Private > Soli is not a camera and doesn’t capture any visual images. This is a privacy misconception that really needs to die (something also discussed in the W3C ambient light sensor thread recently on HN frontpage). Sensing involves privacy implications. By. Definition.

stestagg 7y ago
Especially as the privacy statement you quoted is immediately followed by a diagram showing how Soli can tell if you're paying attention to your phone or not, and how many people are near-by.
arxpoetica 7y ago
Strong agree. One of radar's primary utilities is imaging: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaging_radar https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaging_radar I wonder how they phrased it in their patents.
pdpi 7y ago
We don't even need to resort to "by definition" here. They describe the tech as "detect[ing] objects and motion through various materials". We're effectively talking about the equivalent of TSA full-body scanners. How's that for privacy concerns!? Also, for a bit of pedantry, if this is literally "radar" as they say it is, then the argument that "Soli is not a camera and doesn’t capture any visual images" is arguing semantics at the level of splitting "which EM frequency ranges count as a camera and/or visual imagery" hairs.
- aidenn0 7y ago
  The site doesn't say what band they are using, but their research articles contain a lot in the 60GHz range, which is certainly high enough resolution to capture images, particularly if you use synthetic aperture techniques (you can already do inertial movement sensing on a phone to aid with this).
sorokod 7y ago
"visual images" sounds like weasel wording "A weasel word, or anonymous authority, is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated."

stestagg 7y ago

Especially as the privacy statement you quoted is immediately followed by a diagram showing how Soli can tell if you're paying attention to your phone or not, and how many people are near-by.

arxpoetica 7y ago

Strong agree. One of radar's primary utilities is imaging: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaging_radar https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaging_radar I wonder how they phrased it in their patents.

pdpi 7y ago

We don't even need to resort to "by definition" here. They describe the tech as "detect[ing] objects and motion through various materials". We're effectively talking about the equivalent of TSA full-body scanners. How's that for privacy concerns!? Also, for a bit of pedantry, if this is literally "radar" as they say it is, then the argument that "Soli is not a camera and doesn’t capture any visual images" is arguing semantics at the level of splitting "which EM frequency ranges count as a camera and/or visual imagery" hairs.

aidenn0 7y ago
The site doesn't say what band they are using, but their research articles contain a lot in the 60GHz range, which is certainly high enough resolution to capture images, particularly if you use synthetic aperture techniques (you can already do inertial movement sensing on a phone to aid with this).

sorokod 7y ago

"visual images" sounds like weasel wording "A weasel word, or anonymous authority, is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated."