Preface to Special Issue on Wireless Body Area Networks: Based on Bodynets 2018 Conference

摘要

In October 2018, the 13th EAI International Conference on Body Area Networks, BODYNETS 2018, was organized in Oulu, Finland. The conference was a venue for researchers from all around the world to present their latest work on various areas of wireless body area networks (WBAN). Based on the review evaluations, small amount of selected authors were invited to submit extended versions of the papers they presented in the conference to this Special Issue. Wearable electronics, reliable wireless communications and remote care approach jointly with personal and individualized health management are the future trends modern healthcare is going to. Making this happen, new gadgets, processes and technology are needed to provide trustworthy communications mechanisms starting from data origin (user data) to electrical/medical health databases for final savings. WBANs can be seen as one important element in this whole process. Not only on-body devices, but advanced biocompatible contraptions that could seamlessly provide even in-body information were in focus of BODYNETS 2018. Dependable communications associated with accurate localization information, medical big data and other data management can greatly benefit the use of wearable technology in healthcare practices. The final goal is to make the healthcare processes more effective, reduce the medical professionals' workload and at the end, minimize the overall healthcare costs.