Wi-Fi at this point is our lifeblood. If our phones or tablets or cars or lights or computers or appliances or medical equipment or… You get the idea. While the spread of 5G will certainly help soothe the demand for data, more and more are we relying on this tried-and-true standards of 802.11. Enters the latest one working its way through the regulations, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11bf).
The exact standard is not set in stone, we do know that this will be the proposed iteration that “Wi-Fi SENS”ing becomes a thing. While not developed for nefarious reasons, it truly does come with some ethical baggage.
What is Wi-Fi 7 SENS?
This is the ability for machine learning software to interpret the subtle changes in Wi-Fi signals to identify what is happening in real time. The dense Wi-Fi signals found in almost every home can be used to map the environment. Even to the level of, for example, changes in breathing or keystrokes as one types. Spooky, right?
Francesco Restuccia
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, US
Not so much. This has been a goal for teams of researchers for the past decade. Think of a smart home that will truly understand your needs, in real time. For example, your house will know when you’re slightly too hot and be able to turn the air on automatically. Also, hospitals will monitor patients with a fraction, or none, of the wires today. Efficiencies in the home skyrocket, where lights follow, and precede, the user entering a room. Never having to touch a light switch again. As a result, even the most sensitive security system will be obsolete as long as the Wi-Fi stays on.
The other benefits that don’t involve tracking humans is more to do with a busy environment. Equipment will be able to optimize signal strength where it is needed most. No long will Wi-Fi routers dumbly broadcast strong signals into obstructions. Therefore, the software will instead make sure to reach each device as optimally as possible. Reorganized shopping malls will maintain peak strength for all its users. Traffic and pedestrians will be less of a problem for a connected city. The benefits are enormous.
Wi-Fi 7 SENS Is Coming
Which is why this conversation is so important. Certainly, the SENS technology is coming. Market leaders see incredible potential in monetizing this data. Tracking not just location, but biometrics of users in real time is the epitome of customer support. And did I mention cost effective? As most buildings have large Wi-Fi networks already. Likewise, customers themselves are already expecting solid and continuous Wi-Fi signal strength. It’s a no-brainer!
Let’s Hear What You Think
Should Wi-Fi SENS be opt-in or opt-out?
How do we keep third parties from accessing SENS data?
How are end users going to be made aware of SENS in the coming years?
In short, while this may be a vast improvement over simply tracking your phone, we head fast into a world without privacy. If we had any to begin with.