Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

staceyoniot.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 235 posts

Re: The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

#51

Post by jagger27 »

zinekeller wrote: post #44
jagger27 wrote: post #40

I'm surprised that there's not a single comment here about 802.11ay which is also 60GHz. Each channel on that standard can do something like 40Gbps, which is nuts. From Wikipedia[0]: > The link-rate per stream is 44 Gbit/s, with four streams this goes up to 176 Gbit/s. Yes, it can't penetrate walls, but is huge for point to point communication. Think VR headset bandwidth, file transfers between devices, wireless back…

> You can "sense" with a lot more resolution if you use a camera and light bulb. (Visible) Light has a frequency of around 400-790 THz, which explains why it has a inherently better resolution.

Yep!

Re: The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

#52

Post by transpute »

charcircuit wrote: post #48
Haemm0r wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1 As many APs today are already cloud dependent I can totally see where all the sensed data will be stored and out of the owners control.

How would this be useful? Collecting the average distance away from an access point someone uses their phone or whatever?

Similar motivations as gait recognition or accelerometer data harvesting as proxy for other human actions.

Re: The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

#54

Post by transpute »

whatshisface wrote: post #36
GlenTheMachine wrote: post #9

Is it just me, or does this seems like a really, really bad idea? The privacy implications here seem… disturbing.

Technology can't be stopped by individual engineers refusing to invent it, it can only be stopped by everyone agreeing on the ways it shouldn't be used. So it was for arson (fire), homicide (every weapon since the rock), and obscene material (all communications technology), and so must it be for privacy and the various techniques of monitoring us.

Since 802.11bf makes most existing walls transparent, it should lead to innovation in wall construction.

It may also increase market demand for light-based wireless networking (Li-Fi) which has the advantage of being stopped by existing walls.

Re: The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

#55

Post by Gigachad »

GlenTheMachine wrote: post #9

Is it just me, or does this seems like a really, really bad idea? The privacy implications here seem… disturbing.

I think future home privacy will go beyond blinds. We will be lining the walls in RF blocking sheets.

Re: The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

#56

Post by transpute »

charcircuit wrote: post #47
petarb wrote: post #27

I want my Wi-Fi to deliver me fast internet access, not track my position. Have a feeling this will be used for il-intent and monetized by future routers

But tracking your position allows it to give you fast internet access.

How does beamforming position granularity correlate with speed?

Re: The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

#57

Post by mulmen »

jagger27 wrote: post #40

I'm surprised that there's not a single comment here about 802.11ay which is also 60GHz. Each channel on that standard can do something like 40Gbps, which is nuts. From Wikipedia[0]: > The link-rate per stream is 44 Gbit/s, with four streams this goes up to 176 Gbit/s. Yes, it can't penetrate walls, but is huge for point to point communication. Think VR headset bandwidth, file transfers between devices, wireless back…

So if I don’t want anyone taking a WiFi “photo” of me on the throne I should put up aluminum foil curtains?

Re: The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

#58

Post by transpute »

Gigachad wrote: post #55
GlenTheMachine wrote: post #9

Is it just me, or does this seems like a really, really bad idea? The privacy implications here seem… disturbing.

I think future home privacy will go beyond blinds. We will be lining the walls in RF blocking sheets.

RF shielding materials: https://mpkb.org/home/special/emf/protective_materials & https://www.eiwellspring.org/shielding.html

QuietRock 530RF drywall will block sound and RF, https://www.buildsite.com/pdf/pabcogypsum/QuietRock-530-Inst...

Re: The next big Wi-Fi standard is for sensing, not communication (2021)

#59

Post by mulmen »

charcircuit wrote: post #48
Haemm0r wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1 As many APs today are already cloud dependent I can totally see where all the sensed data will be stored and out of the owners control.

How would this be useful? Collecting the average distance away from an access point someone uses their phone or whatever?

“You seem to spend a lot of time in your bathroom, would you like to try one of these laxatives from our partners?”

“Your honor, wifi data clearly shows the defendant was…”

Post reply on HN