The Video-Game Character Who Can Ignore Your Commands

When he was in grad school, the roboticist Daniel Wilson installed 150 binary sensors in his house. They ranged from infrared motion sensors--the kind you find in taps and towel dispensers in public washrooms--to audio sensors, laser break beam sensors, and contact switches hooked up to overhead lights, furniture, and appliances. Over the next two years, Wilson collected data on every aspect of his daily routine, from how long he spent in the shower to how many times a day he opened the cutlery drawer. Pressure mats fixed to the bottom of his couch and chairs recorded how long he spent sitting down; a small, wireless microphone allowed him to turn lights on and off using just his voice. He even built a wireless toothbrush to record the time and length of his oral hygiene habits.