The instant application discloses, among other things, techniques to allow multiple tiles containing various types of sensors to be connected via a network to a number of other tiles and a computer, with automatic virtual orientation of the tiles and fast data transmission. Data may be collected by a central processor from four quarter tiles and transmitted to the computer for analysis. Information obtained from the analysis may include, but is not limited to, gait analysis, identity of people on a floor, and safety issues (detecting someone has fallen, for example).