Title: Sensor networks and systems for pervasive healthcare

Authors: Eiman Tamah Al-Shammari

Addresses: Department of Information Science, College of Computing Sciences and Engineering, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Abstract: Healthcare industry has transcended its traditional focus on medical treatment provision and life safety, having developed into a complex system of subsidiary services that are characterised by many technological applications. These applications are instrumental in guaranteeing the efficient, accurate, and low-cost execution of necessary operations. New medical technologies are currently being introduced at an ever-increasing pace in collaborative technologies and computer applications specifically designed for the purposes of healthcare, social networking and health portals. In particular, projects that focus on providing care, peer-to-peer networks, and sensor networks for pervasive healthcare merit particular attention. This paper highlights the digital revolution in healthcare by analysing the relevant literature and discussing the current scope of communication networks and innovative technologies, as well as their future needs and possibilities. A constructivist approach based on grounded theory methodology was applied to affirm the importance of sensor networking and pervasive healthcare in healthcare communication environments.

Keywords: medical technologies; pervasive healthcare; body sensor networks; mobile networks; wireless networks; healthcare communication networks; healthcare technology; peer-to-peer networks; P2P networks; grounded theory.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2014.059341

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2014 Vol.14 No.2, pp.91 - 104

Received: 19 Sep 2013
Accepted: 17 Jan 2014
Published online: 16 Oct 2014 *

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