Wi-Fi Signals Allow Gesture Recognition All Through the Home

vinces99 writes "Forget to turn off the lights before leaving the apartment? No problem. Just raise your hand, finger-swipe the air and your lights will power down. Want to change the song playing on your music system in the other room? Move your hand to the right and flip through the songs. University of Washington computer scientists have developed gesture-recognition technology that brings this a step closer to reality. They have shown it's possible to use Wi-Fi signals around us to detect specific movements without needing sensors on the human body or cameras. By using an adapted Wi-Fi router and a few wireless devices in the living room, users could control their electronics and household appliances from any room in the home with a simple gesture."

Comments

What about false positive gesture recognition

[wbr1]

The last think I want it the system to detect me fapping and turn the tv to CSPAN and turn all the lights on!

Re:What about false positive gesture recognition

[CanHasDIY]

The last think I want it the system to detect me fapping and turn the tv to CSPAN and turn all the lights on!

No, but you might want it to react that way when you're rushing to hide your boner from your mom, who just walked through the door.

Re:What about false positive gesture recognition

[Anonymous Coward]

CanHasDIY: "This isn't what it looks like!"
CanHasDIYs mom: "I sure hope so because it looks like you are jerking off to CSPAN"

Re:What about false positive gesture recognition

[cervesaebraciator]

CanHasDIYs mom: "I sure hope so because it looks like you are jerking off to CSPAN"
CanHasDIY: "No Mom. They call it journalism now."

The Force?

[Jhon]

So... maybe "The Force" or "magic" is just an accumulation of old wifi products?

re: hand gesturing

[Anonymous Coward]

This feature will not be made available in Italy.

Douglas Adams, always before his time

[Anonymous Coward]

A loud clatter of gunk music flooded through the Heart of Gold cabin as Zaphod searched the sub-etha radio wave bands for news of himself. The machine was rather difficult to operate. For years radios had been operated by means of pressing buttons and turning dials; then as the technology became more sophisticated the controls were made touch-sensitive--you merely had to brush the panels with your fingers; now all you had to do was wave your hand in the general direction of the components and hope. It saved a lot of muscular expenditure, of course, but meant that you had to sit infuriatingly still if you wanted to keep listening to the same program.

Zaphod waved a hand and the channel switched again.

"Mommy, why are our neighbor's lights flashing?"

[sehlat]

I'll tell you when you're older, dear.

I see a problem

[Cro Magnon]

Okay, I'm working on a report on my laptop while watching Sean Hannity. Sean says something annoying, I give him the finger - and then my laptop shuts down without saving my work!