Non-wearable Wi-Fi signals may potentially gauge heart rates, according to recent findings.

In a groundbreaking development, engineers at the University of California-Santa Cruz have unveiled Pulse-Fi, a system that uses Wi-Fi signals to monitor heart rate without the need for wearables. This innovative technology could potentially revolutionize the way heart rate is monitored, making it more accessible and less intrusive.

Pulse-Fi works by capturing tiny disturbances in Wi-Fi signals caused by the heartbeat and filtering out noise using a machine-learning model. The system is designed to provide non-intrusive monitoring of vital signs such as heart rate, which is critical for improving elderly care and early health intervention.

The project, presented at the 2025 International Conference on Distributed Computing in Smart Systems and the Internet of Things conference held in Tuscany, Italy, shows early data that ordinary wireless devices can be repurposed as accurate health sensors. Pulse-Fi can read heart rate within half a beat per minute after only five seconds.

One of the unique advantages of Pulse-Fi is that it can work at distances of up to three meters. This means that it could be used in long-term care and healthcare institutions where systematic, continuous, and easy-to-deploy accuracy for health monitoring is increasingly needed.

The machine-learning model in Pulse-Fi is trained on data from more than a hundred volunteers in different positions. This ensures that the system remains clinically accurate regardless of whether participants are sitting, standing, or lying down.

Pulse-Fi does not require the use of smartwatches, chest monitors, or other wearables for heart rate monitoring. This could make it particularly useful for older adults, patients in recovery, or people who dislike or cannot tolerate wearing sensors.

The implications of Pulse-Fi could make home Wi-Fi setups into passive health monitors, offering continuous feedback without requiring people to change their routines. It points to a future where our homes are equipped with invisible health sensors powered by the Wi-Fi we already use every day.

However, further research and development are needed to improve the accuracy and reliability of Pulse-Fi for widespread use in healthcare settings. The research team is expanding Pulse-Fi to measure breathing and explore applications for conditions such as sleep apnea.

Wi-Fi signals offer unique advantages for health monitoring as they penetrate walls, are ubiquitous indoors, and avoid camera-based privacy concerns. This makes Pulse-Fi a promising solution for non-invasive, continuous health monitoring in the comfort of one's own home.