title: Utilizing electromagnetic shielding textiles in wireless body area networks.
abstract: For privacy and radio propagation controls, electromagnetic shielding textile could be adopted in WBANs. The effect of including a commercially available electromagnetic shielding apron in WBANs was examined in this paper. By having both the coordinator and the sensor covered by the shielding apron, signal could be confined around the body; however signal strength can be greatly influenced by body movements. Placing the shielding apron underneath both antennas, the transmission coefficient could be on average enhanced by at least 10dB, with less variation comparing to the case when apron does not exist. Shielding textiles could be utilized in designing a smart suit to enhance WBANs performance, and to prevent signals travelling beyond its intended area.
authors.affiliation: Medical ICT Group, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Yokosuka, 239-0847, Japan. grace.sung@nict.go.jp
authors.forename: Grace H H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D003020:Clothing; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013784:Textiles