Theoretically Speaking — Monitoring People and Their Vital Signs Using Radio Signals and Machine Learning

In this talk, Dina Katabi will present sensing technologies that track people’s gait and movements based purely on the radio signals that bounce off their bodies. These technologies can further monitor a person’s breathing, heartbeats, and sleep quality remotely, without requiring any physical contact with the human body. They operate by transmitting a low-power wireless signal and analyzing its reflections using machine learning models. Katabi will show results from using these sensors for remote health monitoring of patients with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and COVID-19. Katabi envisions that such technologies can enable truly smart homes that learn people’s habits and passively monitor their vital signs to allow for early detection of health problems and improve overall health and well-being.

Dina Katabi is the Thuan and Nicole Pham Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, a MacArthur fellow, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. She is the leader of the Networks at MIT (NETMIT) research group, part of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, and a director of the MIT Center for Wireless Networks and Mobile Computing. Katabi received her PhD and MS degrees from MIT in 2003 and 1999, and her bachelor of science from Damascus University in 1995. Her research interests span mobile systems, machine learning, health Internet of Things (IoT), and wireless networks. She develops new technologies, algorithms, and systems that provide noninvasive health monitoring, enable smart homes, improve Wi-Fi and cellular performance, and deliver new applications that are not feasible given today’s technologies. She has received multiple prestigious awards, including the ACM Prize in Computing, the ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award, two SIGCOMM Test of Time Awards, a Sloan fellowship, the IEEE Communications Society William R. Bennett Prize, and multiple best paper awards. Several start-ups have been spun out of Katabi’s lab, such as PiCharging and Emerald.

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This event will be held in person and virtually. 

Please read on for important information regarding logistics for those planning to register to attend the workshop in-person at Calvin Lab.

Proof of Vaccination
Given current public health directives from state, local, and university authorities, all participants in Simons Institute events must be prepared to demonstrate proof of full vaccination: a vaccination card or photo of the card along with a valid photo ID, or a green Campus Access Badge via the UC Berkeley Mobile app (additional details regarding proof of vaccination can be found here).

Masks
Masks are required indoors for all participants regardless of vaccination status.

Refreshments
Light refreshments will be provided before the lecture. Please note due to current health conditions, we will set up just outside the building. There will be signs to direct you. Please note there is no food or drink allowed in the auditorium. Thank you for helping us to keep the auditorium clean.

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