Technology
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces for Non-Line-of-Sight Wireless Signal Coverage
Quick fact
A reconfigurable intelligent surface can be as thin as a wallpaper and, by using thousands of tiny adjustable elements, can steer reflected signals much like a phased-array radar, but for communication.
Why this is interesting
Ever lost a signal in a building or a city street? What if you could turn the walls, windows, and billboards into mirrors that bounce the signal right to your phone—but only when you need it?