29-12-2009, 06:53 PM
SKINPLEX
Ubiquitous computing (UC) has come a long way since its invention
by Marc Weiser.recent development of body sensor
networks is an advancement in this technology. Body coupled communications
(BCC) is a new technology that might make body
sensor networksmore seamless and more intuitive .Skinplex was introduced as a medium for body coupled communications. Skinplex technology became available which
was very simple implementation with very low speeds and very
low energy consumption. This implementation was not advanced
enough for body sensor networks and was mainly used
for user identification.The skinplex is an implementation from a company called IDENT
technology AG.The skinplex operates on the same
basic principles but has a very low data rate and very low power
consumption. The developers claim a data rate of about 9 Kb/s
with an extremely low energy usage of 8 microWatt. But its applications
are more limited in scope compared to other implementations. Most o fits applications are related to safety and evolve the person closing or breaking the electrical connection. Being able to close an electrical circuit via a human allows body coupled communications
to be used for more than just body sensor networks. Skinplex improves security and
safety. Some real world examples may include:
-not allowing the driver to change settings
on the radio while driving but only allowing the companion
to change the settings so as not to distract the driver.
-a user could authenticate himself or herself to a
computer via a Skinplex key worn on the body.
Skinplex and Ubiquitous Computing
Skinplex, as a technology for Body Coupled Communication(BCC) is best suited to object to object communications. The data rates involved are simply too low for it to serve as a
body sensor network. But the data rate is sufficiently high enough for safety and
security applications.
The biggest problem with BCC is that
it is not currently commercially available or to build systems with. The only
two available implementations on the market right now is the security
implementation of Red Tacton (NTT) and Skinplex.
For further details, visit the SKINPLEX website:
http://ident-technologyindex.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=3&Itemid=4&lang=en
