Wi-Fi Signals Enable Gesture Recognition In Home

University of Washington computer scientists announced that they have developed a gesture-recognition technology that leverages Wi-Fi signals to detect specific movements without the need for sensors of cameras aimed at the human body. All that’s needed is an adapted Wi-Fi router, along with a few wireless devices spread throughout any given home, and users should be able to control household appliances and other electronics from any room with a simple gesture. It works through the smart router’s ability to interpret the frequencies of the Wi-Fi signal, which are altered by the human gesture that interrupts or alters them. This would have a similar — but far broader — impact to the Xbox Kinect, while proving cheaper and easier to install. It will be important to watch where this technology ends up in the near future.