Oh, I'm sorry: You didn't realize this was a thing?
From Comcast Xfinity:
WiFi Motion uses your Xfinity Gateway and existing WiFi-connected devices in your home to sense motion between the gateway and your selected WiFi-connected devices. When the feature is enabled, you can receive push notifications about activity in your home and enjoy added peace of mind ... Comcast does not monitor the motion and/or notifications generated by the service.
2008's The Dark Knight envisioned Batman using wireless signals to create sonar that mapped the locations of individuals.
As it turns out, you can actually do that.
If your router detects a change in signal strength between it and the roughly 8 billion devices you have connected to it these days, and if the lull in signal strength passes along a certain trajectory, it can guess that something or someone is moving in a room and predict where that person might be moving.
Xfinity even offers customers the option to exclude small pets from the alert system, meaning your router is smart enough to know when a small dog or cat is moving around versus a grown human.
(I'm sure this tech has never been misused, right?)
Anyway, people had thoughts:
Oh, did you know that you don't even have to move for the machines to be able to see you?
All you have to do is breathe.
(See this 2013 study for more ... yes, this tech is well over a decade old).
Anyway, for those who didn't realize this was possible, welcome to the brave new world ... sponsored by Xfinity!
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