MIT Develops a Way To Use Wireless Signals From In-Home Appliances To Better Understand Your Health (techcrunch.com) 16
[R]esearchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) have developed a new system (PDF) that can figure out when and where in-home appliances like hair dryers, stoves, microwaves and washing machines are being used, and they believe that info could help inform healthcare practitioners about the habits and challenges of people under their care. TechCrunch reports: The researchers devised a system called "Sapple" that uses just two sensors placed in a person's home to determine use patterns of devices including stoves, hair dryers and more. There's one location sensor that works using radio signals to figure out placement, with a user able to calibrate it to cover their area by simply walking the bounds of their space. A second sensor measures energy usage through the home, and combines that data with movement information to matching energy use signals with physical locations of specific applicants, to provide data both when a person is using the appliances around the house, and for how long.
This gets around a lot of the issues raised by similar systems, including more simple voltage meters used on their own. While appliances do tend to have specific energy use patterns that mean you can identify them just based on consumption, it's hard to tell when and how they're being used with that data on its own. This info can let health professionals know if a patient is taking proper care of hygiene, food preparation and intake and more.
This gets around a lot of the issues raised by similar systems, including more simple voltage meters used on their own. While appliances do tend to have specific energy use patterns that mean you can identify them just based on consumption, it's hard to tell when and how they're being used with that data on its own. This info can let health professionals know if a patient is taking proper care of hygiene, food preparation and intake and more.
Because, obviously - (Score:5, Funny)
- the biggest problem we face today is that we are insufficiently surveilled.
Re: (Score:2)
- the biggest problem we face today is that we are insufficiently surveilled.
More to the point for this, my appliances are shy and don't like to be watched -- especially my toaster.
Re: (Score:2)
You misunderstand this! They want only your best! And obviously, they know best, so they need to make sure you live your best possible life by using the hair-dryer exactly how they think it should be used. And if not, you obviously have a psychological problem that needs adjustment. Hence this really is all positive and benefits everybody!
In other news, conformism is extremely bad for society and individuals.
Can't Imagine (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
The ultimate excuse for tyranny, we must protect you... from yourself!
Re: (Score:2)
The ultimate excuse for tyranny, we must protect you... from yourself!
If necessary by killing you! Of course, that would be better than a fate worse than death, like, for example, using a hair-dryer in a non-approved way.
Re: (Score:2)
For most people? No, and "keep your gdam 'Sapple' out of my house".
Lonilyness kills. Ask anyone in solitary confinemt (Score:1)
What? (Score:3, Insightful)
"Sapple", eh? (Score:2)
I bet a certain fruity company is lawyering-up even as we speak.
Re: "Sapple", eh? (Score:1)
Only in a world, where people (like you) let insane people like that set rules and spread that mindset.
"Apple" cannot even be trademarket, for obvious actual-real-fruit reasons.
Even more ways for Big Brother to spy on you (Score:2)
Do we really need this level of intrusion to what is going on inside our homes?
Just because 'we/they can' does not mean that they should.
Anyone who suggests installing anything like this (and indeed anthing related to IoT) will be sent packing with a hefty boot up their backsides.
Just 2 words (Score:1)