Human Magnetic Fields Could be Used to Send Signals for Wireless Communication

There may be a new way to communicate wirelessly with someone. Scientists have created a new communication technique that works by sending magnetic signals through the human body.

"In the future, people are going to be wearing more electronics, such as smart watches, fitness trackers and health monitors," said Patrick Mercier, one of the researchers, in a news release. "All of these devices will need to communicate information with each other. Currently, these devices transmit information using Bluetooth radios, which use a lot of power to communicate. We're trying to find new ways to communicate information around the human body that use much less power."

This latest study, thought, presents a solution to some of the main barriers of other wireless communications systems. In order to reduce power consumption when transmitting and receiving information, wireless systems need to send signals that can easily travel from one side of the human body to another.

In this latest study, the researchers demonstrated a technique called magnetic field human body communication, which uses the body as a vehicle to deliver magnetic energy between electronic devices. An advantage of this system is that magnetic fields are able to pass freely through biological tissues, so signals are communicated with much lower path losses and potentially, much lower power consumption.

"This technique, to our knowledge, achieves the lowest path losses out of any wireless human body communication system that's been demonstrated so far," said Mercier. "This technique will allow us to build much lower power wearable devices."

The findings could be much when it comes to smartwatches and other wearable devices. More specifically, it could lead to a longer battery life.

The findings were presented at the 37^th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society in Milan, Italy.

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