Researchers show how mouse sensors can pick up speech from surface vibrations

jjslash writes: Researchers at UC Irvine have shown that high DPI computer mice can detect tiny desk vibrations and reconstruct speech from them. Their Mic-E-Mouse project reveals how everyday hardware could be turned into a covert listening device under certain conditions. TechSpot reports:

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have shown that the sensors in high-resolution optical computer mice can detect tiny desk vibrations and translate them into speech. Their project, called Mic-E-Mouse, demonstrates how an ordinary mouse can become a listening device when paired with the right software.

High-performance optical mice – especially those with resolutions of 20,000 dpi or higher and rapid polling rates – are sensitive enough to capture minute surface vibrations. In gaming and graphic design contexts, this sensitivity enables highly precise control.