Electrical engineers at the University of California, San Diego demonstrated a new wireless communication technique that works by sending magnetic signals through the human body. The new technology could offer a lower power and more secure way to communicate information between wearable electronic devices, providing an improved alternative to existing wireless communication systems, researchers said. They presented their findings Aug. 26 at the 37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society in Milan, Italy.
While this work is still a proof-of-concept demonstration, researchers envision developing it into an ultra low power wireless system that can easily transmit information around the human body. An application of this technology would be a wireless sensor network for full-body health monitoring.
"In the future, people are going to be wearing more electronics, such as smart watches, fitness trackers and health monitors. All of these devices will need to communicate information with each other. Currently, these devices transmit information using Bluetooth radios, which use a lot of power to communicate. We're trying to find new ways to communicate information around the human body that use much less power," said Patrick Mercier, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC San Diego who led the study. Mercier also serves as the co-director of the UC San Diego Center for Wearable Sensors.
This could lead to many lab hijinks.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday September 02 2015, @08:06PM
Intercept that, NSA!
Next step: mesh networking
(grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Refugee from beyond on Wednesday September 02 2015, @08:19PM
Mandatory probe installed at birth. Problem solved.
Instantly better soylentnews: replace background on article and comment titles with #973131.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 02 2015, @11:38PM
If I walk up to you and place my hand on your exposed forearm, will my "devices" be able to pick up your "transmissions"? Kenneth, what's the frequency?
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday September 03 2015, @02:13PM
"Mesh networking," the new party game.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday September 03 2015, @07:59PM
I wonder which party will be the first to include it in their electoral promises ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford