Big Brother House Could Save Power
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 04.29.07
Researchers have developed a building equipped with motion detectors, which should provide large power savings, as well as other safety benefits. A network of motion detectors would allow a central computer to collect information about how many people are in a building, and where they are. This could allow the building to turn heating or air conditioning up or down, depending on how many people are in various sections. Christopher Wren at the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratory (MERL), where this research took place said, "Imagine peeling the roof off the building and watching people go about their lives, like in an ant farm." Despite this slightly intimidating analogy, there should be no privacy issues with this system, because the motion sensors would not be able to identify people as cameras would do. :: New Scientist
