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Department of Information Technology

E-Health and Body Area Networks

Small, wireless sensors allow monitoring of numerous parameters on or even inside the body. For example, sensors can be used to measure heart rate, blood pressure, movement patterns, or location. Networks of such sensors - referred to as Body Area Networks (BANs) - enable new applications that allow to increase the quality of healthcare and at the same time reduce the associated costs. Exemplary applications include assisted living for the elderly, early detection of health problems, and performance analysis for athletes.

Body Area Networks and e-Health are a relatively new field with many open challenges. As a starting point, we provide three general areas for projects:

  • Social applications: BANs that are connected to the Internet enable their users to share data using social web sites such as Facebook or Twitter. What applications can we develop that use BANs and social networks to promote a healthy lifestyle? Projects can propose and implement applications.
  • Interaction between BANs: Imagine a future in which BANs are ubiquitous - every person wears a network of sensors. This scenario bears both challenges, such as interference and resource contention, and opportunities, such as cooperation between networks. How can we mitigate the problems? How can we make use of the opportunities? Projects should focus on practical proposals.
  • Communication around the body: Radio communication on the body is challenged by the low dielectric permittivity of the body and the constant movement of sensor nodes. What are the characteristics of radio links near the body? What are the implications for wireless technologies on the radio, link and network layer? Both literature surveys and experimental projects are possible.

For the projects, we can provide you the following equipment: Zolertia Z1 sensor nodes with on-board accelerometer and IEEE 802.15.4 radio transceiver; Mobile phones (e.g., HTC Hero) for interaction between sensor nodes and the Internet; Shimmer nodes with on-board accelerometer, IEEE 802.15.4 radio transceiver, and 2 GB SD card for data storage. Additional sensors, e.g., gyrometers, can be ordered if necessary.

Updated  2012-02-22 18:51:39 by Per Gunningberg.