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Comcast is turning Wi-Fi routers into motion sensors
A Wi-Fi router is usually responsible for connecting devices to the internet, but Comcast has given it another rather unexpected task. Millions of newer Xfinity routers can now detect movement in the home without the user having to buy a camera or a classic motion sensor, according to a new software update.
WiFi Motion is part of the new Xfinity Shield service and works on Xfinity Gateway XB7 routers and above. Opting in is voluntary and the feature can be turned off at any time in the Xfinity app.
The system doesn't use a camera or attempt to identify a person. Instead, it monitors changes in the radio signal between the router and selected devices connected via Wi-Fi. When someone walks through the area between them, their body changes the way the wireless signal propagates, and the algorithm can detect movement from these changes.
The user can select up to three connected devices for detection, and the system can also track movement between different rooms or floors. It does not show the exact location of the person, but rather reports on which connected device the activity was detected. The app can also view the event history for the last seven days.
Comcast offers Home Watch, Away Watch, and Dark Watch modes that adjust the detection based on whether the user is home, away, or asleep. The app can send a notification to your phone when motion is detected. The company emphasizes that the solution is not a replacement for a professional alarm system, but rather an additional option for basic home monitoring.
The technology isn't new. Similar ideas have been tried by Linksys, Philips Hue, and other manufacturers, but Comcast says it spent about three years developing its algorithms before it felt the detection was reliable enough for widespread use.
Technology that can follow you around your home, of course, immediately raises doubts among users. A router is a device that is already connected to an internet provider all the time, but now it can also infer from radio signals when someone is moving around the home.
Comcast specifically states that it does not track motion or notifications, and that the feature does not record video, capture photos, or identify individuals. However, Xfinity's documentation states that event data is retained at least long enough for the user to view a seven-day history. More importantly, Comcast warns that the data generated by WiFi Motion may be shared with third parties as required by law in response to investigations, legal proceedings, court orders, or subpoenas.
