[Term of the Day]: Wireless Body Area Network
Term of the Day
“Wireless Body Area Network”
Definition — What is WBAN and it's purpose?
WBANs consist of wirelessly connected nodes of sensors or actuators that are specially designed to operate autonomously to connect various medical sensors and devices. The nodes are placed in, on and around/off the human body forming a network for the continuous and unobtrusive monitoring of physiological and/or environmental signals to support medical, lifestyle and entertainment applications.
With the rapid advancements of wireless communications and semiconductor technologies in the area of sensor networks, WBAN is becoming a nexus of innovation that the health care sector is increasingly looking for advanced Information & Communication Technology (ICT) systems to efficiently administer the healthcare delivery for a range of services.
According to an analysis by Businesswire, the market size of the Global Body Area Network is expected to reach $17 billion by 2025.
Examples of devices in a WBAN might include:
Wearable computing devices such as Google Glass, gaming headsets, smartwatches, wristbands, smart rings and heads-up displays.
Mobile medical devices often in the form of sensors and actuators that monitor health data like blood pressure, heart rate, glucose level and medication compliance.
Health and fitness devices such as the popular Fitbit wristband that tracks data for things like exercise activities, sleep quality and vital signs.