Wi-Fi sensors: Detecting environmental changes through signals

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• January 28, 2022

Insight summary

WiFi sensing leverages wireless networking to detect motion, offering a myriad of applications from home surveillance to business operations. By processing signals from various devices, it can monitor activities and trigger alerts, enhancing security while preserving privacy. This technology has far-reaching implications, from creating more efficient homes and businesses, to influencing legislation, job markets, and even societal norms around privacy.

Wi-Fi sensor context

Wi-Fi sensing is an emerging technology that uses existing wireless networking principles to detect motion through environmental changes. As such, this tech creates a wide variety of applications, especially in connected homes. In 2019, there was an average of 11 connected devices per American household, each providing plenty of data points that can improve Wi-Fi sensing accuracy.

Wi-Fi sensing can detect environmental changes by processing signals from various devices that receive data from access points. The technology offers convenient alternatives to monitoring activities, such as keeping an eye on children after school and looking after elderly relatives remotely. Depending on the software, Wi-Fi sensing may be used to detect motion and trigger a security alert by sending notifications to apps.

The most straightforward application for Wi-Fi sensing is home surveillance as it does not employ cameras or other imaging devices, thereby allowing users to improve security while still maintaining privacy.  With higher-resolution detection data, the technology can differentiate between users who are sitting down watching TV and those who may have accidentally slipped. Home automation is also possible with Wi-Fi sensors. For example, the system can automatically toggle lights whenever Wi-Fi sensing detects a family member entering or leaving a room.

Disruptive impact

WiFi sensing technology could mean a more personalized and intuitive living environment. For instance, a WiFi sensing system in a smart home could detect the movements of its occupants, adjusting lighting, temperature, and even music based on their location and activity. This feature could lead to a more comfortable and energy-efficient living space.

For businesses, WiFi sensing could offer a new level of insight into customer behavior and operational efficiency. Retail stores could use this technology to track customer movement patterns, enabling them to optimize store layouts and product placements. In manufacturing, WiFi sensing could monitor the movement of machinery and workers, identifying potential inefficiencies or safety issues.

On a larger scale, governments could employ WiFi sensing to enhance public safety and urban planning. In public spaces, this technology could help monitor crowd movements, aiding in crowd control during large events or emergency situations. For urban planning, data from WiFi sensing could provide valuable insights into how citizens move and interact within a city, informing decisions on infrastructure development and public transportation routes. 

Implications of Wi-Fi sensing

Wider implications of Wi-Fi sensing may include:

• Enabling housekeeping in the hospitality industry to become more efficient by using Wi-Fi sensors in hotel rooms to check occupancy in rooms rather than employees going door to door. 
• Providing touchless alternatives to shared surfaces through motion detection like subway turnstiles, elevator buttons, and airport kiosks. 
• Providing greater security in homes as Wi-Fi penetrates through walls, enabling out of line-of-sight operations. 
• People becoming more accustomed to their movements being tracked and analyzed leading to a more surveillance-oriented society.
• New markets and industries centered around WiFi sensing applications, leading to increased job opportunities and economic activity.
• New legislation to regulate the use and application of this technology, balancing the benefits of enhanced security and convenience with the need to protect citizens' privacy.
• Advancements in related fields, such as artificial intelligence and data analytics, as the need to process and interpret the vast amounts of data generated by WiFi sensing grows.
• A greater need for professionals skilled in managing and interpreting WiFi sensing data.
• More efficient use of resources in homes and businesses by enabling precise control of lighting, heating, and cooling based on occupancy and activity.

Questions to consider

• What privacy issues are involved in large-scale applications of Wi-Fi sensors?
• Will the introduction of more Wi-Fi sensor applications help people have better mobility and a sense of security? 
• What other industries do you think might benefit from Wi-Fi sensing?