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'Synthetic Sensors' Project to Bring IoT Capabilities to All Appliances

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University's Future Interfaces Group are exploring a general-purpose sensing approach, wherein a single highly capable sensor-board can indirectly monitor an entire room. Their 'Synthetic Sensors' project involves a plug-in sensor-board that is filled with multiple individual sensors, but no camera - mitigating privacy issues. The custom sensor uses machine learning algorithms to process any data it is picking up. It can be trained to identify anything from various household appliances getting turned on or off, to cupboard or microwave doors opening and closing, to whether a toilet has been flushed.