The Internet of Bodies: The Human Body as an Efficient and Secure
Wireless Channel
Abstract
Taking a cue from the Internet of Things, the Internet of Bodies (IoB)
can be defined as a network of smart objects placed in, on, and around
the human body, allowing for intra- and inter-body communications. This
position paper aims to provide a glimpse into the opportunities created
by implantable, injectable, ingestible, and wearable IoB devices. The
paper starts with a thorough discussion of application-specific design
goals, technical challenges, and enabling of communication standards. We
discuss the reason that the highly radiative nature of radio frequency
(RF) systems results in inefficient systems due to over-extended
coverage that causes interference and becomes susceptible to
eavesdropping. Body channel communication (BCC) presents an attractive,
alternative wireless technology by inherently coupling signals to the
human body, resulting in highly secure and efficient communications. The
conductive nature of body tissues yields a better channel quality, while
the BCC’s operational frequency range (1-100 kHz) eliminates the need
for radio front-ends. State-of-the-art BCC transceivers can reach
several tens of Mbps data rates at pJ/b energy efficiency levels that
support IoB devices and applications. Furthermore, as the cyber and
biological worlds meet, security risks and privacy concerns take center
stage, leading to a discussion of the multi-faceted legal, societal,
ethical, and political issues related to technology governance.