Since 2013, MIT has been working on a technology called Wi-Vi (Wi-Fi Vision). Its main purpose is to detect movement in a given space. The signal is strong enough to go through walls, bounce throughout a room, and then come back through the wall to be received by the device sending out the signals in the first place. It then analyzes these signals as it continuously sends out more, which creates a sample of data that can be observed in real-time as it's being made. The technology still needs to be perfected, but it raises the question of what exactly this technology can/should be used for.
Why Wi-Vi?
The usage of Wi-Vi varies in its importance. It could be used for things as serious as overseas military missions and hostage situations. Being able to know about how many people are in a certain room can prove to be invaluable information for members of the military and the police force. The usage of it could also be less serious; like seeing if you have a couple mice in your walls or ceiling. The usage of the technology in this way is definitely a possibility, but it is not yet perfected to be used by the average human being. Its output of information is simply not ideal.
The Wi-Vi potential
The amount of information that Wi-Vi can give us is small in its total potential. It can only tell us if something within its signal range is moving.
It can give no other information. Ideally, the technology would be able to do more; like tell the user what is in the room on top of there being any movement inside of it. Researchers of Wi-Vi hope that, in the future, the technology would be able to "reflect" a room. Essentially, it would show us the general sizes and shapes of objects within the confines of a room.
This means that no movement at all would be necessary to know what was inside a room.
A Wi(Vi)reless future
The future of Wi-Vi is promising and one hopes for that future to become a reality. Surveillance and security would improve around the globe. In some natural disasters, emergency responders would be able to see through things like rubble and wreckage to save victims.
If it were to be released to the general public, it could be used to read physical gestures to turn things on around the house. It could also be used to perfect the technology of controller-less gaming. Its uses are broad and vary in importance, but one thing's for sure: Wi-Vi could definitely be a part of the wireless future of humanity.
