Oct 29, 2010 10:54 GMT  ·  By
Wireless sensors on future generations of smartphones could enable a new type of high-bandwidth Internet network
   Wireless sensors on future generations of smartphones could enable a new type of high-bandwidth Internet network

A team of investigators believes that outfitting people with wearable, wireless sensors could form the basis of strong, powerful mobile Internet networks, that would provide uninterrupted access to the Web.

The idea comes from experts at the Queen's University Belfast, who believe that such sensors would enable high-bandwidth networks that would eliminate the current density of cell phone base stations.

Such an innovative infrastructure would need to rely heavily on the developing science of body centric communications, say scientists at the QUB Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT).

“In the past few years a significant amount of research has been undertaken into antennas and systems designed to share information across the surface of the human body,” says Dr Simon Cotton.

“Until now, however, little work has been done to address the next major challenge which is one of the last frontiers in wireless communication – how that information can be transferred efficiently to an off-body location,” he adds.

Dr Cotton is based at the ECIT wireless communications group, which participated in developing the revolutionary new idea. He believes that some of the social benefits of such a network would include massive improvements in mobile gaming and remote healthcare.

Precision monitoring of athletes and real-time tactical training are also some of the applications that could become a reality in the near future.

The main carriers of the new technology would be the next generation of smartphones, which could use the sensors to underlie so-called body-to-body networks (BBN).

“The availability of body-to-body networks could bring great social benefits, including significant healthcare improvements through the use of bodyworn sensors for the widespread, routine monitoring and treatment of illness away from medical centers, Dr Cotton says.

“This could greatly reduce the current strain on health budgets and help make the Government's vision of healthcare at home for the elderly a reality,” he adds further.

The UK Royal Academy of Engineering and the Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC) awarded Dr Cotton and his team a five-year Research Fellowship for developing this idea further.

Implementing such a technology would require a host of infrastructure modifications, as well as educating the public in using the sensor networks.

“Success in this field will not only bring major social benefits it could also bring significant commercial rewards for those involved,” the team leader adds.

“Even though the market for wearable wireless sensors is still in its infancy, it is expected to grow to more than 400 million devices annually by 2014,” Dr Cotton concludes.