Seeing through Walls
It’s a regrettably common scene: hostages at gunpoint, police shouting through bullhorns, holding off for fear of harming those inside. Now Huntsville, AL-based Time Domain has a device that could give the cops a better sense of when to move in: an instrument that can see through walls. Much like a radar set, the system sends out a signal that bounces off objects, so distances can be calculated. But while radar sends out a continuous wave, Time Domain’s instrument sends out millions of pulses per second, allowing it to screen out still objects and precisely locate moving objects. The device, which the company expects to sell by year’s end, will be responsive enough to detect even the minute motions of a person attempting to stand still. An even more sensitive version is being developed for use in finding people during earthquake rescue.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.
“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.
What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines
New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation
From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.