Information itself may be what ends the human race
"We are literally changing the planet bit by bit, and it is an invisible crisis."
17 September, 2020
Credit: Charles Deluvio on Unsplash
- IBM estimates that humans produce 2.5 quintillion digital data bytes daily.
- We'll one day reach a point where the number of bits we store outnumber the entirety of atoms on Earth.
- In the most severe scenario, it takes just 130 years for all the power generated on Earth to be sucked up by digital data creation and storage.
<p>Although many places in the world are currently preoccupied by the COVID‐19 pandemic, most infectious disease experts believe that a pandemic is<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/06/infectious-diseases-extinction/487514/" target="_blank"> unlikely to end the human race</a>. The Black Death of the 14th century was probably the worst case in history. It eliminated <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2002527/" target="_blank">one‐third</a> of Europe's population, which ironically, lead to higher wages—due to a lack of workers, a distrust of authorities who could not protect the people against the disease, and a reinvestment in humanity, all of which lead to <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-isnt-the-first-global-pandemic-and-it-wont-be-the-last-heres-what-weve-learned-from-4-others-throughout-history-136231" target="_blank">the Renaissance</a>.</p><p>If anything is to end the human race, it'll be <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12131.doc.htm" target="_blank">climate change</a>. The iconic <a href="https://thebulletin.org/2020/01/press-release-it-is-now-100-seconds-to-midnight/" target="_blank">Doomsday Clock</a> was moved ahead from two minutes to 100 seconds to midnight, in January of this year. The clock has been moved ahead each year for the last four years. What's more, this is the closest it's ever been to midnight since its inception in 1947. <br><br>We've got about a decade to turn things around before the damage becomes <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12131.doc.htm" target="_blank">irreversible</a>. The situation is so disheartening, that at least one group of <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/ast.2017.1671" target="_blank">scientists</a> speculates the reason we don't see a universe replete with alien civilizations is that it's hard for species to survive the climate change advances in technology inevitably cause.</p>
Will data do us in?
<p><br></p><p>If we do get lucky enough to survive and steer clear of any other likely, apocalyptic scenario, say a thermonuclear war, the eruption of a <a href="https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/supervolcano-wipe-out-united-states-kill-billions?rebelltitem=1" target="_blank">supervolcano </a>or an enormous <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/07/here-s-how-world-could-end-and-what-we-can-do-about-it" target="_blank">asteroid </a>slamming into the Earth, we'll have about<a href="https://www.universetoday.com/18847/life-of-the-sun/" target="_blank"> five billion years</a> until the sun runs out of fuel. But between now and the death of our sun, there's another issue scientists weren't even aware of, until now. Information itself could thwart humankind. It isn't data per se but storing it. As societies increasingly rely on digital information and there's more and more of it, we'll one day reach a point where the number of bits being stored will <a href="https://publishing.aip.org/publications/latest-content/digital-content-on-track-to-equal-half-earths-mass-by-2245/" target="_blank">outnumber the atoms that make up our planet</a>. That's according to theoretical physicist and Senior Lecturer <a href="https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/melvin-vopson" target="_blank">Melvin Vopson</a> at the University of Portsmouth in the UK. A peer‐reviewed paper on his theory, called "The Information Catastrophe," was recently published in the journal <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0019941" target="_blank">AIP Advances</a>.</p><p>"Currently, we produce ∼1021 digital bits of information annually on Earth," Vopson begins. This is based on an IBM estimate that humans produce 2.5 quintillion digital data bytes daily. With an assumed 20 percent growth rate, the number of bits we produce will outnumber the entirety of atoms on the planet in around 350 years. In a <a href="https://publishing.aip.org/publications/latest-content/digital-content-on-track-to-equal-half-earths-mass-by-2245/" target="_blank">press release</a>, Vopson said, "We are literally changing the planet bit by bit, and it is an invisible crisis."</p><p>There are a lot of variables to consider. For instance, the number of bits produced each year, data storage capacity, energy production and the size of the bit compared to the atom (mass distribution). There are human‐centered factors too, such as population growth and the rate of access to information technology in developing countries. "If we assume a more realistic growth rates of 5%, 20%, and 50%," the paper states, "the total number of bits created will equal the total number of atoms on Earth after ∼1,200 years, ∼340 years, and ∼150 years, respectively."</p>It could be worse than predicted
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="951cfbbb0298c36758141a8fe63d162f"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C2Ag1iQKWeM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>In the most severe case, the 150‐year scenario, it would take approximately 130 years until all the power generated on Earth is sucked up by digital data creation and storage. In this version, by 2245, digital information's mass would equal half that of the Earth's. IBM states that 90 percent of the digital information we have today was only produced in the last ten years. "The growth of digital information seems truly unstoppable," Vopson said.</p><p>What's more, he believes his rates are conservative. He told me via email: "If we look only at the magnetic data storage density, it doubled every year for over 50 years." Not only might the generation of data increase at a faster clip, the estimate uses the thermodynamic energy limit for bit creation. This is the ideal case, the maximum possible efficiency, which we are miles away from, meaning the issue may arrive far sooner.</p><p>Dr. Vopson did offer one solution, using "non‐material media" to store information. He does not hold out hope for this, however. "I am more optimistic about the energy aspects as we will most likely master better ways of extracting energy from fusion (and) solar PVs to close to 100% efficiency." Quantum computing wouldn't be the answer, as quantum bits or q‐bits (bits in quantum superposition states) don't store data. Instead, storage happens using digital bits and classical computing.</p><p>Besides this theory, Vopson is the progenitor of the mass‐energy‐information equivalence, which states that information is an essential building block of the universe and it has mass. In this theory mass, energy, and information are all interconnected. Dark matter doesn't exist. Instead, the "missing" matter in the universe is the mass information itself contains.</p>
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New invention promises quantum internet that can't be hacked
Breakthrough technology uses multiplexing entanglement to make an ultra-secure quantum internet.
17 September, 2020
Credit: Copyright ÖAW/Klaus Pichler
- Scientists devise the largest-ever quantum communications network.
- The technology is much cheaper than previous attempts and promises to be hacker-proof.
- The 'multiplexing' system devised by the researchers splits light particles that carry information.
<p>Scientists are closer to creating a hacker-proof quantum internet thanks to a promising new invention. A team led by the University of Bristol in the U.K. found a method of securing online communication that relies on the laws of physics.</p><p>The approach aims to make any message sent over the internet interception-proof. </p><p>The study's lead author Dr. Siddarth Joshi, of the university's <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/qet-labs/" target="_blank">Quantum Engineering Technology (QET) Labs</a>, called their work a "massive breakthrough" that makes quantum internet possible. The potential of such a network has run into tremendous costs, resources, and research time while sacrificing security. What the researchers created is "scalable, relatively cheap and, most important of all, impregnable," <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-09-revolutionary-quantum-breakthrough-paves-safer.html" target="_blank">shared</a> Joshi, adding that "it's an exciting game changer and paves the way for much more rapid development and widespread rollout of this technology."</p>
<p>With hackers seemingly always a step ahead of any protections we've been putting in place on our current internet communications, there's strong motivation for finding a much more secure alternative that wouldn't lead to expensive and damaging privacy breaches. But while's it been hailed for decades as a possible solution, quantum internet hasn't yet been devised to the point of usefulness.</p><p>One method of secure encryption already invented, called <strong>quantum key distribution</strong>, relies on transmitting photons – particles of light. This can be used to share information between two users, using a secret key to encrypt data. The drawback of this tech – it needs a large infrastructure to expand, with each user requiring a separate transmitter and receiver. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Sharing messages in this way, known as trusted nodes, is just not good enough because it uses so much extra hardware which could leak and would no longer be totally secure," Dr. Joshi explained.</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQxNTQ1MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1ODQ1NjMzOX0.QSS3yzgf6uIwnjxMWn4b1EAp9LT-xk8nwqNCGtMxhCA/img.jpg?width=980" id="01613" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ba44c108b7065b711e841f776c6c4099" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Quantum network in operation.
Credit: Siddarth K. Joshi
<p>What Joshi's team came up with utilizes <strong><a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/entanglement-made-simple-20160428/" target="_blank">quantum entanglement, </a></strong>the ability of two particles at different locations to mimic each other. The developed system also sports traffic management that helps control the network, allowing to prioritize user connections.<br></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Instead of having to replicate the whole communication system, this latest methodology, called <strong>multiplexing</strong>, splits the light particles, emitted by a single system, so they can be received by multiple users efficiently," elaborated Dr. Joshi.</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQxNTQ1Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDI2OTE1NX0.ZubSyFxhYhiW2lpJbH5FLLx2mERG4GTImhYRpnfYf8o/img.jpg?width=980" id="29f4b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8561d446c140cf763abfdd6fb948b4e2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Artist's drawing of the quantum network, with the glowing lines showing quantum entanglement shared by 8 users.
Credit: Holly Caskie
<p>In fact, the researchers were able to make a network for eight users that only needs eight receiver boxes, not 56 as would be the case under the old approach. The boxes were linked to Bristol's optical fiber network and were successful in sending messages using the quantum communication. Not only was this very secure but the technique relied on existing technology, requiring less hardware and much less financial investment. Previous quantum systems spent years in construction, with costs running into millions and even billions. The new network was made in just months for under $400,000.</p><p>The relatively low costs allow the multiplexing entanglement technology to be scaled up widely, propose the scientists, who think they can be "serving not just hundreds or thousands, but potentially millions of users in the not too distant future," as <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-09-revolutionary-quantum-breakthrough-paves-safer.html" target="_blank">stated</a> Dr. Joshi.</p><p>Check out the new research in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/36/eaba0959" target="_blank"><em>Science Advances.</em></a></p>
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3 ways bulk email verification can prevent free trial abuse
Businesses have learned how to mend the weak spots in free trial marketing.
03 September, 2020
Credit: Shutterstock
- Free trials are an excellent marketing tool but people can take advantage of the system by using disposable emails, jumping from one free trial to the next.
- You can use free trial marketing to great effect if you know how to protect your business against those who want to take advantage.
- Here are 3 ways to identify email addresses that will never lead to a genuine sale and remove them from your lists.
<p>Isn't it a fundamental consumer right to try a product or service before purchase to make sure it works? Then again, not all consumers are as ethical as we would like to believe. Quite a few never end up purchasing licenses or subscriptions and are content with abusing free trials by primarily using disposable email addresses. Companies can, however, fight back against free trial abuse with the help of a bulk email validation solution. Here are three ways how.</p>
Limit registration to non-disposable email address users
<p>Protection against freemium abuse begins upon signup. Limiting registration to only those who don't use disposable email addresses is one way to do that. You can integrate a bulk email verification API into your registration page or use a disposable email domains database like the one provided <a href="https://emailverification.whoisxmlapi.com/disposable-email-domains?mc=bigthink.com" target="_self">by WhoisXML API</a> to automatically check if the email address a subscriber provided is disposable or not. A useful bulk email validation tool would tell your administrator immediately that the address is disposable, and so it's likely you're dealing with someone who might try to abuse a free trial.</p><a href="https://emailverification.whoisxmlapi.com/disposable-email-domains?mc=bigthink.com" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYzMjkwMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTUzMzE1OX0.RvfSCPLh2llBsT1ru98sLnwab0WNh-1JBqH4IhhOrw8/img.png?width=980" id="9a871" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="624ead3c30dd034e8a3e58ada443cfc6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Bulk email verification tool" /></a>Make sure the email address is contactable
<p>Not all freemium abusers use disposable email addresses. Some can just as easily use personal email addresses from Gmail, Yahoo, or other free services. A lot of people keep extra email addresses to direct email marketing or newsletters to. It's one way to keep their primary personal inboxes less crowded.</p><p>Since these secondary email addresses probably get tons of marketing collateral each day, they're likely full, and so messages will sooner or later bounce. That's not good for any company as it translates to a high bounce rate, which can adversely affect its email deliverability and domain reputation.</p><p>A robust <a href="https://emailverification.whoisxmlapi.com/bulk-api?mc=bigthink" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bulk email validation API</a> can instantly let you know if all the email addresses in your contact database are accessible. It tells you if every address is Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)-enabled and, therefore, able to receive messages. So, if you, for instance, have the email address soon_be_to_nothing@yahoo.com in your database, which has an email verification result that says it isn't SMTP-reachable, it may be best to take it off your distribution list to lower your bounce rate.</p><p>Taking the email address that's probably no longer in use off your subscription list is also advisable. That way, your chances of dealing with a freemium abuser is reduced as well.<br></p><a href="https://emailverification.whoisxmlapi.com/bulk-api?mc=bigthink" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYzMzAyMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzA0MDI2MH0.GGDQJnOedW6yB9cq0qmrfPwTthcnB2xpi4pRnSLMomw/img.png?width=980" id="90d00" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="edb0bfce366c8fe0e86fa9874a1acbba" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="bulk email validation API tool" /></a>Keep your distribution list in tip-top shape
<p>The more unreachable email addresses in your distribution list, the higher the chances of ending up in someone's blacklist. It is, after all, not uncommon for spammers or cybercriminals to use the shotgun approach in attacks. Sending messages to as many inboxes as possible, after all, increases their chances of success. Using their tactic for a legitimate business, however, is unacceptable either. Organizations are not allowed to send emails to just about anyone without their consent.</p> <p>And so companies that want to stay off blacklists should make it a point to keep their distribution lists updated at all times. But we also know that over time, contact lists can grow to a massive size, making cleanup tedious and time-consuming. The quickest way to keep email databases in tip-top condition is to use a bulk email validation solution. It lets you check up to 50,000 email addresses in one go to make sure that they won't do your domain reputation any harm and cause you to end up on a dreaded blacklist.</p> <p>Bulk Email Verification API/Lookup can confirm if each email address:</p> <ul><li>Has the correct syntax or follows established Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards</li><li>Is not disposable by checking its domain against those of known disposable email providers that include Mailinator, GuerrillaMail, and more than 2,000 others</li><li>Has a corresponding mail server evidenced by properly configured mail exchanger (MX) records</li><li>Points to a valid inbox that lessens your chances of dealing with suspicious users</li><li>Is not associated with a catch-all mailbox that isn't assigned to any particular user and so may not add value to your distribution list</li></ul><p>While allowing every potential subscriber to try your product/service free of charge is a great thing, you still need a way to keep the system honest. Strike a balance between keeping free trial abuse to a minimum and encouraging individuals to register for your offerings with the help of bulk email validation solutions.</p>
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Editor X is setting a new standard for web design. Here’s everything you need to know.
Creators can now control every aspect of their business.
26 August, 2020
- Editor X is an advanced web creation platform made exclusively for designers and agencies, offering total design flexibility with a unique combination of responsive design capabilities and intuitive drag and drop behavior.
- The platform serves as a full stack solution with integrated business tools like booking systems, marketing resources, e-commerce and more.
- Users can connect to external APIs and write custom code with a built-in IDE to create rich, data-driven websites.
<script async="true" src="https://widgets.stackcommerce.com/js-deal-feed/0.1/widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nowadays, people are experiencing the advancements of web design on their desktop, mobile and every screen size in between. This is why it’s important for web creators to have a platform that helps them achieve the same visual impact no matter what device it’s being viewed on. Editor X is a sophisticated </span><a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a5b0cv5067&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-424458&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004XwIF&pub_id=2540"><span style="font-weight: 400;">web creation platform</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that gives complete design control and the freedom to build websites for any screen size imaginable. Here’s everything you need to know about how Editor X is reshaping responsive web design. </span></p><p><strong>Advanced design capabilities </strong></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Made for designers and agencies who build sites for others, Editor X offers a revolutionary combination of responsive design capabilities with intuitive drag and drop behavior. Building powerful, responsive websites with advanced flexbox technology and approachable CSS allows creators to bring their exact visions online on </span><a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a5b0cv5067&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-424458&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004XwIF&pub_id=2540"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the most flexible canvas yet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p><p><strong>All-in-one</strong></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creating unique web experiences on Editor X doesn’t stop at design. With industry-leading web infrastructure, designers can provide brands and clients with a website that answers all their businesses needs. Websites can be enriched with a variety of integrated business solutions like e-commerce, booking systems, marketing tools and more. This means designers no longer have to struggle with third-party plug-ins, and can instead take their ideas straight to production on </span><a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a5b0cv5067&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-424458&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004XwIF&pub_id=2540"><span style="font-weight: 400;">one comprehensive platform</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p><p><strong>Custom code</strong></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To code, or not to code? On Editor X, the decision is yours. With a powerful code-free CMS, you don’t need any coding knowledge to manage the back-end content of a website and display it in a visually outstanding way. However, the platform does enable users to connect to external APIs and write custom code with a built-in IDE so they can create rich, data-driven websites and advanced web applications with unparalleled speed. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Make any vision possible on this revolutionary creation platform. Ready to get your site up and running on Editor X? </span><a href="https://stackmedia.io/?utm_source=1a5b0cv5067&utm_medium=1a0b0cp393&utm_term=scsf-424458&utm_content=100-a0x1P000004XwIF&pub_id=2540"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Go create</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">--</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em><em>W</em><em>hen you buy something through a link in this article or from <a href="https://shop.bigthink.com/" rel="dofollow" target="_self">our shop</a>, Big Think earns a small commission. Thank you for supporting our team's work.</em></em></span></p><script type="text/javascript"> (function (s,o,n,a,r,i,z,e){s['StackSonarObject']=r;s[r]=s[r]||function(){
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Can your smartphone detect how drunk you are?
A small proof-of-concept study shows smartphones could help detect drunkenness based on the way you walk.
25 August, 2020
Photo by wavebreakmedia on Shutterstock
- The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving in the U.S is 0.08 percent. You can measure your BAC 15 minutes after your first drink and your levels will remain safe if you consume no more than one standard drink per hour.
- Portable breathalyzers can be used to measure BAC, but not many people own these devices.
- A small proof-of-concept study suggests that your smartphone could detect your drunkenness based on the way you walk.
<p>The legal limit for driving within the United States is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. <a href="https://www.bactrack.com/blogs/expert-center/35040901-how-many-drinks-does-it-take-to-reach-0-08-bac" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">According to BAC Track</a>, you can measure your BAC (blood alcohol content) as soon as 15 minutes after your first drink. BAC Track suggests your BAC level will remain within safe limits if you consume one standard drink per hour. </p><p><strong>According to BAC Track, one standard drink is half an ounce of alcohol, which can be: </strong></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>One 12 ounce beer </li><li>One 5 ounce glass of wine </li><li>One 1.5 ounce shot of distilled alcohol </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.lifeloc.com/factors" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">There are many things</a> that influence a person's BAC, including how quickly you drink, your body weight, altitude, how much food you've eaten, whether you're male or female, and what kind of medications you're currently on. </p><p>A new study has found that your smartphone could actually tell you if your blood alcohol concentration exceeds the limit of 0.08 percent.</p><ul class="ee-ul"></ul>
The small study that could mean big things for alcohol testing
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU3OTEzMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzOTY0MDk0OH0.wFIh9fQoCEd7fGgw59Mn5nyp9c5yjQbCoVXQrx3AnNk/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C1307%2C0%2C880&height=700" id="df0bb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7c1e9a4575df74b89d0078c69a3dbd3d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="alcohol impairment by BAC level chart" />Image by gritsalak karalak on Shutterstock
<p> While devices such as portable breath analyzers are available, not many people own them due to how expensive they are and the social stigma surrounding them. <a href="https://www.jsad.com/doi/10.15288/jsad.2020.81.505" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">This 2020 study</a> suggests smartphones could be an alternative. <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/" target="_blank">According to PEW Research</a>, up to 81 percent of people own a smartphone.<span></span> </p><p> <strong>The study</strong> </p><p> For this small-scale study, there were 22 participants who visited the lab to consume a vodka-based drink that would raise their breath alcohol concentration to 0.02 percent. </p><p> Dr. Brian Suffoletto of the Stanford Medical School's Department of Emergency Medicine (and corresponding author of the study) explains to <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/smartphones-measuring-walk-could-detect-drunkenness#Straight-line-walking" target="_blank">Medical News Today</a>: "I lost a close friend to a drinking and driving crash in college," Dr. Suffoletto says. "And as an emergency physician, I have taken care of scores of adults with injuries related to acute alcohol intoxication. Because of this, I have dedicated the past 10 years to testing digital interventions to prevent deaths and injury related to excessive alcohol consumption." </p><p> <strong>How it works:</strong></p><p> Before having the drink, each participant had a smartphone strapped to their back and was asked to walk 10 steps in a straight line and then back again. Every hour for the next 7 hours, the participants repeated this walk. </p><p> The sensors on the smartphone measured each person's acceleration and their movements (both from side to side and up and down). </p><p> <strong>This is not the first study of it's kind.</strong></p><p> Previous research (such as <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7764559" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">this 2016 study</a>) has used machine learning to determine whether a person was intoxicated. That data, gathered from 34 'intoxicated' participants, generated time and frequency domain features such as sway area and cadence, which were classified using supervised machine learning. </p><p> This 2020 study showed promising results of the smartphone analysis: over 90 percent accuracy. </p><p> Researchers found through analyzing the data that 92.5 percent of the time they were able to determine if a participant had exceeded the legal BAC limit. </p><p> <strong>Of course, the study had some limitations.</strong></p><p> In real life, a person is very unlikely to keep their smartphone strapped to their back. Placing the phone in your pocket (or carrying it) could impact the accuracy. </p><p> This study also measured breath alcohol concentrations, which are on average <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24747668/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">15 percent lower</a> than blood alcohol concentrations. </p><p> <strong>The implications of this small-scale study are exciting.</strong> </p><p> While this was a relatively small study, it is being used as a "proof of concept" marker for further research. Researchers on this project explain that future research would ideally be done in real-world settings with more volunteers. </p><p> Dr. Brian Suffoletto explains to <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/smartphones-measuring-walk-could-detect-drunkenness#Over-90%-accurate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Medical News Today</a>: </p><p> "In 5 years, I would like to imagine a world in which, if people go out with friends and drink at risky levels, they get an alert at the first sign of impairment and are sent strategies to help them stop drinking and protect them from high-risk events, like driving, interpersonal violence, and unprotected sexual encounters." </p>
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