Scientists Invent Carpet That Acts as Security System - as part of the news series by GeoBeats.

Have you ever wanted your lazy carpet to be able to do something else besides just sit on your floor and collect dust? Now it can double as your security system too. Scientists at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom have created a carpet that can tell if there are intruders walking on it, or if someone has fallen over and sound an alarm. Using optical fibers and a 2d pressure map, sensors send information to a computer that can track walking patterns and footprints.

The carpet could also use the sensors to potentially warn about chemical spills and warning signs of fire. One of the developers, Patricia Scully said: “(i)n theory, we could identify footsteps of individuals and the shoes they are wearing.”

Other less conventional security systems are available on the market now. Including the Smokecloak, which is a fog machine that leaves an intruder unable to see anything when they are surrounded by a cloud of smoke. There’s also the Meet Tango security system that is a recording of a vicious dog used to intimidate potential intruders. Or there’s the Fake TV, which emits a fluctuating light that mimics the glow of a television.