New Tech Will Use Wi-Fi For Gesture Control | TechTree.com

New Tech Will Use Wi-Fi For Gesture Control

No additional hardware is necessary.

 

Imagine gesturing with your hands in the shower or in the kitchen and you could turn on or off your music system or your washing machine. Well, this seems to be a possibility now as new research known as WiSee, published by the University of Washington's computer science department is said to be able to do just that using variations in Wi-Fi signals. This indeed means that the setup should be possible without the necessity of investing into expensive additional hardware including cameras and other sensors in your home.

The technology makes use of the Doppler effect, which is traditionally applied to sound waves. As per Doppler effect, the wavelength of sound emanating from a moving object gets reduced (compressed) as the object moves towards an observer and increases (expands) as it moves away. The amount of reduction or increase of wavelength (increase or reduction of frequency respectively), depends on the speed of the object relative to the observer. This phenomenon is commonly noticed as the pitch of a train horn increases as it approaches and decreases as it retreats. A similar phenomenon occurs with Wi-Fi signals disrupted by hand gestures and the same principle has been applied by the researchers to interpret them.

The wireless router can be used to detect changes in Wi-Fi signals as they are reflected off a moving human body in a similar way. The team of researchers including Shyam Gollakota have managed to record 94% accuracy in identification of gestures in this way including situations where the user was in a different room as the Wi-Fi router and the waves had to pass through walls before the gestures got detected.

Acknowledging the risk that anyone could gain access to such a system, unintended or for hacking, the researchers have devised a password system that would involve the user repeating a gesture sequence four times to activate the system and put it in a mode ready to accept gesture commands. The system is said to work with up to 5 people, but requires multiple antennas for that. It is also noted that the accuracy of the system decreases as the number of users increases. The group has also set up a website to publicise WiSee, possibly to attract commercial sponsors. If it does take off, the technology could be applied in various scenarios such as controlling gadgets and appliances at home or even in gaming. While it appears to be an attractive proposition because you don't have to invest in expensive hardware such as Kinect, Leap Motion, or MYO, it remains to be seen if even commonly available Wi-Fi routers can be effectively used to detect gestures.

New Tech Will Use Wi-Fi For Gesture Control


TAGS: Science

 
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