The Walls Have Eyes, and They're Watching How You Walk

A smart home with walls capable of monitoring each person's health without wearable fitness trackers just got a step closer. A research group based primarily at MIT has shown how a picture-size wall sensor can detect the walking speed and stride length of people based on how their bodies interfere with radio signals. The WiGait system works by transmitting low-power radio signals and analyzing how those radio signals reflect off of people's bodies within a radius of 9 to 12 meters. It can also detect the walking patterns of multiple people and works across physical barriers such as walls within a home. According to its inventors, this "invisible" sensor could combined with wearable devices used to track other fitness measures--especially for older people with chronic conditions such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.