Are you really curious about what your neighbors are doing at 2AM that makes it sound like a herd of buffalo are stampeding across your ceiling? Well, one day you may be able to find out, thanks to researchers at MIT’s computer science and artificial intelligence lab, who’ve developed a way to look through walls using wifi.
Of course, we’re not talking high definition. Like sonar, the device, called “Wi Vi,” emits low-power wifi waves which then bounce off any moving humans, giving a rough outline of who’s where.
It’s way cheaper than current military-grade technologies, and researchers suggest it could be used for applications like search-and-rescue and personal safety. It could also be commercialized for use in gesture-interface gaming, where you could actually leave the room and keep playing.
“We wanted to create a device that is low-power, portable and simple enough for anyone to use, to give people the ability to see through walls and closed doors,” said Dina Katabi, the professor who led the project.
Not sure the thought of “anyone” being able to use this is really reassuring, but sure!
(h/t Tech News Daily)