One hundred telephone poles in Cambridge, MA, will soon host wireless sensors that will allow researchers to track weather more precisely, discover when and where pollution peaks, and test new technologies that could lead to better Wi-Fi.
Anyone will be able to run experiments using the sensor network, says Matt Welsh, a professor of computer science at Harvard University, who is one of the project’s lead investigators. So far, there are five nodes apiece on the campuses of Harvard and BBN Technologies, which is partnering with Harvard on the project.
The first batch of weather and pollution sensors could help doctors advise asthma patients to stay away from certain areas at certain times. Eventually, motion sensors could measure traffic flow or even monitor parking spaces. The network could also be modified to monitor public transportation, helping people find out exactly when the next bus is coming. Kate Greene
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build
“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”
Deep learning pioneer Geoffrey Hinton has quit Google
Hinton will be speaking at EmTech Digital on Wednesday.
Video: Geoffrey Hinton talks about the “existential threat” of AI
Watch Hinton speak with Will Douglas Heaven, MIT Technology Review’s senior editor for AI, at EmTech Digital.
Doctors have performed brain surgery on a fetus in one of the first operations of its kind
A baby girl who developed a life-threatening brain condition was successfully treated before she was born—and is now a healthy seven-week-old.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.