An Introduction
What is Internet of Bodies (IoB) used for?
CONNECTIVITY
Human body communication (HBC) can provide highly secure and power-efficient data transmission among wearable, implanted, and ingested medical devices, KAUST researchers have shown.
“The IoB is a network of wearable, implantable, ingestible and injectable smart objects that allows for in-, on- and off-body communications,” says Ahmed Eltawil from IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).
HEALTH MONITORING
IoB can collect physiological or behavioral data on the human body and share it with healthcare providers.
These data include vital signs, movements, sleep patterns, brain activity, and more.
By collecting real-time data on a person's health and behaviors, IoB can detect anomalies at their very earliest stages. It also helps in compliance and prognosis as it empowers patients to track their own health and wellness, optimize their performance, and enhance their quality of life.
DATA COLLECTION & ANALYTICS
Machine learning, AI, and other data science techniques are used in addition to traditional statistics to recognize patterns and make predictions based on— large, empirical data sets.
(Person-generated health data) PGHD collected by IoB devices allow for continuous monitoring of health status in real time, as well as collection of longitudinal data outside of—or in addition to—the intermittent monitoring that takes place in clinical settings. (Lai et al., 2017)
PERSONALIZED MEDICINE & THERAPY
Interconnecting the architecture of people, sensors, apps, and devices creates heterogeneous data and projects a “Precision Medicine” approach.
Precision Medicine improves the quality of treatment via cutting an extra cost associated with inaccurate/unnecessary diagnoses, medications, and care plans. Moreover, reduces medical errors and designs preventive care for patients with similarities in medications, conditions disease presentations.
SECURITY AND DATA
Embedded technologies will allow us to hold our own data within our own bodies—not on a server or a metaverse owned by profiteers, not taken from a wearable that sells our body data with no return to us.
Implants can attach our data to us, ensuring it is part of us. The Internet of Bodies visions an interconnectivity led by our bodies and our identities, where our transmission and reception of data exist within co-created virtual physical space, where our physical selves are ‘tethered’ to our data selves.
BIO-ENHANCEMENT & AUGMENTATION
The Internet of Bodies opens up the possibility of augmenting human capabilities through direct integration with technology.
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) could potentially enable individuals to control external devices or even robotic limbs using their thoughts alone.
Advancements of biomedical engineering in neuroscience resulted in the development of neuroprosthetics that has been used as assistive and restorative apparatuses in disabilities.
Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN)
WBAN technology is a cornerstone of the Internet of Bodies (IoB), a concept that connects human bodies to the digital ecosystem.
It consists of sensors that are placed in different parts of the body and can be wearable or implanted under the users’ skin. These communicate with a special coordinator node and are responsible for sending biological signals of the patient to the medical doctor in order to provide real time medical diagnostics and allow them to take the right decisions.
WBAN Applications
Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring
Rehabilitation and therapy
Biofeedback
Ambiant Assisted Living
HIERARCHY OF DEVICES IN IoB ECOSYSTEMS
First Generation/ Body External:
Worn or physically connected to a human body.
Second Generation/ Body Internal:
Placed internally in a human body. They may be ingested or surgically implanted.
Third Generation/ Body Embedded:
Electronic devices may be completely merged with the human body.
As of now, the first generation of external devices is widely in practice and internal devices in their various forms are slowly gaining traction.
THE BODY AS A SOURCE OF DATA
IoB gadgets operate on different levels:
Hardware: Implies computing capabilities that are required to operate data and internal gadget’s memory/cloud used for data storage.
Networks: Connection between IoB gadgets is required for the secure data exchange.
Back-end: Unifies storage, analytical, and rendering solutions; may even include a support team that controls the smooth functioning of the gadget.
End-user apps: Serves the configuring for IoB devices; Allows users to view information for a certain period, and may be connected with hardware or other applications.