Imagine a world where Wi-Fi signals can do more than just connect us to the internet. A team of computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University has recently demonstrated this possibility by developing a deep neural network that can digitally map human bodies using Wi-Fi signals alone.
Think of it like radar technology. By analyzing how Wi-Fi radio waves are reflected around a room due to interference from objects like humans, the system can create accurate imagery of moving bodies. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize surveillance and monitoring, while still preserving privacy.
In a recent study, the researchers stated, “Our model can estimate the dense pose of multiple subjects, with comparable performance to image-based approaches, by utilizing WiFi signals as the only input.” This means that the algorithm can determine body positions without capturing facial features or appearance, offering a new way to monitor well-being or identify suspicious behaviors.
But the potential of Wi-Fi signals doesn’t stop there. Scientists at the University of California Santa Barbara have also discovered a way to use Wi-Fi signals to see through walls. By tracing the edges of objects, they were able to reveal the shape of 3D alphabet letters. This opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for Wi-Fi technology.
While this technology is not yet ready to invade our private spaces, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes capable of producing crisp, clear images using the signals emitted by our Wi-Fi routers, smartphones, and laptops.
