Wearable sensors: Technologies for globalized healthy living and wellbeing
Principle investigator
Project overview
The vision of the proposed research programme lies in the design, development and implementation of non-invasive sensing technologies with wide applications, as will be described below, in both the clinical and the home setting. Such sensing technologies could be used for monitoring, prognostic (screening), diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The global sensors market is estimated at over $44billion and with sensors being integrated into an increasingly diverse array of applications, smaller, smarter, lighter and cheaper sensors have more growth potential. Modern applications of sensing systems require the establishment of reliable, low-power wireless networks of sensors which are data-centric, with sensor nodes communicating only when necessary to transport data. The development of such technologies are in line with the strategic plan of NHS and other similar organisations, which is to drive the more mundane delivery of health care, outside the hospitals and in the community. Technologies for screening, monitoring, etc. will alleviate the congestion of health care centres and it will enable them to concentrate in critical care interventions. Recording of physiological and psychological variables in real-life conditions could be especially useful in management of chronic disorders or other health problems e.g. for high blood pressure, diabetes, anorexia nervosa, chronic pain or severe obesity, stress, epilepsy, depression and many others.