Part 14/19:
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) are smart panels that can dynamically alter their electromagnetic properties, redirecting signals to areas with poor coverage, enhancing signal strength, or creating interference-free zones. Early studies suggest RIS could increase network capacity by up to 10 times while significantly reducing energy consumption in dense urban environments. RIS could dramatically improve connectivity without additional base stations. Beyond improving phone signals, RIS could enable precise indoor positioning accurate to within a centimeter, revolutionizing industries from healthcare to manufacturing. However, creating surfaces that can effectively manipulate signals across a wide range of frequencies is technically complex and potentially expensive. Privacy concerns have also been raised as the ability to precisely control wireless signals could potentially be used for targeted surveillance.