A new development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology allows you to "hear" the pulse of other people through walls using Wi-Fi signals that are able to detect the rise and fall of a person's chest. This technology is very useful, for example, for parents who can monitor their child's heartbeat from another room without any special devices.
This method sends a low-energy wireless signal through the wall and measures how long it takes for it to bounce back. Changes in the reflected signal make it possible to track people's movements and even the vibrations of their bodies caused by the heartbeat.
Based on the frequency of raising and lowering a person's chest, the system can determine his heart rate with an accuracy of 99 percent. In this case, the program allows you to track up to four people at the same time.
Tracking such insignificant movements at a rate of a few millimeters per second was virtually impossible before. Now, new low-cost, affordable technology is enabling people to track their vital signs on their own.
The development team has been improving their Wi-Fi tracking technology for some time now. They also developed a 3D tracking system using radio signals.
In addition to caring for newborns, this technology can be used in search and rescue operations and to monitor one's own health. The MIT team is now interested in expanding it to track emotions, which also relate to heart rate and breathing.