Someone pitched me this idea a few months ago and I urged him to pursue it. I'm glad to see that it's being done by a super technical team who seem to know what they're doing.<p>Here's why I'm so excited:<p>1. Shloosl solves a small but acute problem that nearly everyone in the country has.<p>2. It's a big FU to a fragmented and unevolving couple billion dollar industry. I don't want to find a locksmith or go to Home Depot. I just want a duplicate key. And I don't care whether I pay $1.50 for it or $10 for it.<p>3. It's going to have some interesting implications on physical security in society. Locks are already useless to any unskilled criminal with a $100 lockpicking gun. But now, any clown with an iPhone can take a picture of a set of keys and have a working copy sent to anyone in the country within days. I certainly hope the security industry responds with something good.<p>I'd like to think the solution is a better kind of lock, but I don't know. Credit cards have been vulnerable in the same way for a while, but the networks or merchants essentially insure fraudulent transactions so it hasn't resulted in a real problem for people.<p>Either way, I'm looking forward to trying this out this weekend.
This exact concept was done very well by a HNer two years ago:<p><a href="http://dittokey.com/" rel="nofollow">http://dittokey.com/</a><p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2391571" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2391571</a> - Show HN: DittoKey - Door keys copied from a photo app.<p>For my money it's a cool idea, but an overtechnical and imperfect solution to a rare and cheap problem. Keys are cut in minutes, cheaply, with professional guidance at tens of thousands of places around the world.
Does this really solve a problem? The only time I've needed to get keys cut was when I've either lost a key or moved house and needed a copy immediately.<p>Why would I risk my security and have to wait for the mailman? I can get a key cut at one of 10 shops near my house, door to door in 15 minutes.<p>And in the case of a lost key, I'd replace the barrel of the lock too.
I'm actually more worried about this[1]. I don't want my key and associated information stored with bank-grade cryptography, I want it deleted after it's cut and sent out. It's easy enough to change a password if you get hacked, it's slightly more difficult to change a credit or debit card but it's more hassle in "changing all the places it's used" than anything else. But changing locks is a huge pain, and not always possible to do depending on what the key is for. I'd far rather take a picture of a key, save it somewhere secure myself, and send it in when I need a copy made. Having both my shipping address <i>and</i> the key to that address stored on a remote server is particularly worrying to me.<p>1. <a href="http://shloosl.com/#Security" rel="nofollow">http://shloosl.com/#Security</a>
I had two, almost simultaneous reactions to this.<p>On the one hand "oooh, that's useful, I need another set for loaning to cat-sitters."<p>On the other hand, "Keys are worthless now!"<p>The gripping hand is that keys have been worthless for quite some time, but we continue to use them. Whether out of habit, or because they feel sufficient.
You have to be very careful about where you provide this service. Duplicating a "secure" (i.e. non simple) key without asking for proof of residence is against the law in some countries.
Now all I need is a lockable sheath to keep my key in so no one can take a photo of it.<p>Actually... Damn... <a href="http://www.google.com/patents/US7181939" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.com/patents/US7181939</a>. Similar idea is already invented and patented.<p>Although, it isn't anything like I imagined it would be. My design's a lot more practical and only 1 piece, so the patent won't get in the way but I don't think it's something consumers might want to put up with. Having to enter a combination to use your house or car keys each and every time just doesn't seem worth it. Then again... fear is the easiest thing to sell.<p>What do you guys think? Would you buy a combination lock key sheath for $19.99?
This is a pretty dangerous website, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.<p>A unscrupulous car mechanic could save up a bunch of pictures of keys then sell them online anonymously to random people with fake credit cards. You wouldn't even need the peoples address just google map the neighborhood and look for their cars.<p>It'd be a lot harder to sneak off from work to the hardware store then just take a picture of their key.<p>This isn't even a real problem people have.
Forgive me if it's already being done, but I would love to see this capability at my local Home Depot or maybe in an app for a locksmith service. Store pics of my keys on a secure server at the provider, and if I ever lose a key, I hit a button and it's made for me. Could be a whole new revenue stream for them.
> More convenient than a hardware store<p>I'm not too convinced by that, the only times I've had to get keys cut in the last year were because:<p>- I moved into a new apartment and my landlord only had one set of keys. I didn't always want to be home when my housemates wanted to get in so the first thing we did was get new keys cut.<p>- I lent a key to my landlord to do repairs, and they didn't return it. I borrowed one of my housemate's key and got a copy cut (protip: copying a copy isn't a great idea) straight away.<p>I guess maybe it's different in the US, but over here I go past at least five locksmiths on my way to work. Other than that, cool idea :)<p>(My landlord isn't too great BTW)
So i'm about to move out next week, I take a snapshot of the key (that's in my possession right now), pay with a prepaid Visa, and take next occupants stuff.<p>Easily s/apartment/office.<p>Flawless, proof that just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Honest question, is it possible we are approaching a future where metal keys will be rendered obsolete by 3D printers and low-light phone cameras?<p>Maybe Lockitron is much more than just a convenience.<p>Just a thought.
The obvious solution to the "this will be abused by creeps" problem is for the website to generate a page with some random token on it that must be in the same picture as the key.
sooo now i only need a picture of my nemesis/crush to get in his/her apartment? sounds good...all the fun i can have...<p>...and totally not crepy...<p>WHAT THE FUCK?<p>one more reason to get a $70 lock where the key is not that easy to reproduce! and hopefully they stick to the normal rules and ask for the certificate when u want a copy. that would make it a bit safer.