Part I: The Foundation of Body-Centric Networks

 Chapter 1: Beyond Airwaves: The Birth of the Body Internet

While many ordinary consumers are still wrapping their heads around the excitement of smart glasses and rings, around little dictation pins on their lapels, the innovators behind Internet technologies are fastly working on the next revolution in wireless data communication. The human body, it turns out, has a few cards left in its deck of communication abilities. There are already prototype products being tested in the field of surface skin - or capacitive - communication. Purdue University researchers have been experimenting with Internet of Bodies (IoB) technology, which basically uses a person’s skin to help transmit data that is currently transmitted via bluetooth or Wi-Fi - technologies though as wonderful as they are, use a lot of processing energy. In Bluetooth technology, while users are able to connect multiple devices, Purdue’s technology allows developers to connect  - currently - up to about 16 body-worn devices that can stream data simultaneously without packet drop or congestion issues one often finds with bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

A start-up named Ixana is the apparent leader in the development of Body Area Network (BAN) devices and Near Field Electric (NFE) communications for touch-based interfaces. They are already shipping developer kits and this field will grow and emerge into the mainstream one day, likely replacing bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies pertaining to AI wearables and sensors. Imagine a chip about the size of a pencil eraser, with the power to facilitate device to device communications using the surface of the skin. Ixana calls its flagship product Wi-r, pronounced wire. They have been demonstrating their product at tradeshows and making it available to developers and others who are able to form a strategic agreement with the company as to use and proprietary disclosure.  It is said to be in early commercial, or seed stage, putting it at the cutting edge of this new technology. 

There are at least two other emerging technologies that may also enter the field in a mainstream way one day soon. I will explore those technologies as well. Meanwhile, if you have concerns about protection for your devices, consider any one or more of these Faraday Protection bags, available on Amazon.