WiSee uses Wi-Fi to detect gesture commands from any location
Gesture control systems abound, with one of the most popular devices enabling this perhaps being Microsoft's Kinect. One of the limitations of gesture control is the requirement to be positioned in front of the related device, something that is removed with the WiSee wireless Internet-based system. Using WiSee, an individual can use gesture control from anywhere within their home or wherever the network is located.
The project is being developed at the University of Washington, where researchers are using wireless Internet radio waves to detect gestures being performed by users located in the range of the Wi-Fi. When detected, the correlating devices will then respond to the commands, regardless of whether the user is near the device being controlled or the WiSee receiver.
The principle behind how WiSee works isn't terribly complicated, with the system using radio signal changes that result from body movements within the environment to "see" the gestures the users are giving. The more tricky part involves interpreting those frequency changes to understand what movement is causing them, and how to respond. You can see this in action in the video below.
The frequency change interpretation comes via the WiSee receiver, which even allows for multiple users via the use of several antennas. This means an environment that has several individuals located in it won't suffer from unwanted or random commands that result from someone moving in such a way that they inadvertently issue a command.
In their experiments, the researchers have successfully taught the system nine gestures, of which WiSee will correctly interpret them with 94-percent accuracy. While this will work for controlling a computer, for example, it also has more far-reaching possible uses, such as being implemented in a larger system or even a fully automated home, allowing a sweep of the arm or flick of the wrist to turn on the porch lights, turn down the heat, and change the channel.
SOURCE: ars technica