Macroscopic Sensor Networks: Application Issues in the Healthcare Industry

Abstract

Motes (coin-sized sensors) have the potential to transform the way in which people live and work where computing occurs without human interaction - 'data is pre-processed and available on demand'. Motes may potentially transform the workplace into a Mobile Enterprise (m-Enterprise) especially in the healthcare sector. Motes are being trialed for emergency triaging, patient profiling and monitoring and education. Sensor networks have the potential to allow healthcare workers a macroscopic view; they are able to observe and interact with physical phenomena in real time with a high degree of fidelity. This paper examines the current health areas that are using the technology to transform their operations using wireless sensor technology. The researchers report on issues that arose whilst working with Mica2 motes in a test bed environment during 2004, and their efforts to understand how these devices could usefully be adapted to the healthcare sector