An Overview of Applications, Standards and Challenges in Futuristic Wireless Body Area Networks

Abstract

Recent technical advancements in low-power integrated circuits, ultra low-power RF (radio frequency) technology, wireless communications and micro sensors allowed the realization of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). It is one of the latest technologies in health care diagnosis and management. A body area network wirelessly connects independent nodes (e.g. medical devices, earphones, sensors, actuators) attached to the body surface, implanted into tissues/body, or dispersed in the clothing for applications in home/health care, sports, entertainment, defense, ambient intelligence, pervasive computing and many other areas. These sensors offer promising applications in areas such as real time health monitoring, interactive gaming and consumer electronics. WBAN does not compel the patient to stay in the hospital thereby giving much physical mobility. Thus it greatly increases the efficiency of a health care system. This paper presents an overview on the various aspects of WBAN including sensors used, applications, power efficiency, communication protocols, security requirements, existing projects in WBANs and challenges faced in wireless body area networks.