Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications

Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications

by Michael J. McGrath, Cliodhna Ní Scanaill
Released December 2013
Publisher(s): Apress
ISBN: 9781430260134

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Book description

Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications explores the key aspects of sensor technologies, covering wired, wireless, and discrete sensors for the specific application domains of healthcare, wellness and environmental sensing. It discusses the social, regulatory, and design considerations specific to these domains.

The book provides an application-based approach using real-world examples to illustrate the application of sensor technologies in a practical and experiential manner. The book guides the reader from the formulation of the research question, through the design and validation process, to the deployment and management phase of sensor applications. The processes and examples used in the book are primarily based on research carried out by Intel or joint academic research programs.

"Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications provides an extensive overview of sensing technologies and their applications in healthcare, wellness, and environmental monitoring. From sensor hardware to system applications and case studies, this book gives readers an in-depth understanding of the technologies and how they can be applied. I would highly recommend it to students or researchers who are interested in wireless sensing technologies and the associated applications."

Dr. Benny Lo

Lecturer, The Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College of London

"This timely addition to the literature on sensors covers the broad complexity of sensing, sensor types, and the vast range of existing and emerging applications in a very clearly written and accessible manner. It is particularly good at capturing the exciting possibilities that will occur as sensor networks merge with cloud-based 'big data' analytics to provide a host of new applications that will impact directly on the individual in ways we cannot fully predict at present. It really brings this home through the use of carefully chosen case studies that bring the overwhelming concept of 'big data' down to the personal level of individual life and health."

Dermot Diamond

Director, National Centre for Sensor Research, Principal Investigator, CLARITY Centre for Sensor Web Technologies, Dublin City University

"Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications takes the reader on an end-to-end journey of sensor technologies, covering the fundamentals from an engineering perspective, introducing how the data gleaned can be both processed and visualized, in addition to offering exemplar case studies in a number of application domains. It is a must-read for those studying any undergraduate course that involves sensor technologies. It also provides a thorough foundation for those involved in the research and development of applied sensor systems. I highly recommend it to any engineer who wishes to broaden their knowledge in this area!"

Chris Nugent

Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ulster

What you'll learn

The relevant sensing approaches and the hardware and software components required to capture and interpret sensor data.

The importance of regulations governing medical devices.

A design methodology for developing and deploying successful home- and community-based technologies, supported by relevant case studies.

Health, wellness, and environmental sensing applications and how they work.

The challenges and future directions of sensing in these domains.

Who this book is for

Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications is targeted at clinical and technical researchers, engineers, and students who want to understand the current state of the art in sensor applications in these domains. The reader gains a full awareness of the key technical and non-technical challenges that must be addressed in the development of successful end-to-end sensor applications. Real-world examples help give the reader practical insights into the successful development, deployment, and management of sensor applications. The reader will also develop an understanding of the personal, social, and ethical impact of sensor applications, now and in the future.

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. About ApressOpen
  3. Dedication
  4. Contents at a Glance
  5. Contents
  6. About the Authors
  7. About the Technical Reviewers
  8. Acknowledgments
  9. Foreword
  10. Preface
  11. CHAPTER 1: Introduction
    1. What This Book Covers
    2. A Brief History of Sensors
    3. Drivers for Sensor Applications
    4. Challenges for Sensor Applications
    5. Sensors Enabling Innovation
    6. References
  12. CHAPTER 2: Sensing and Sensor Fundamentals
    1. What Is a Sensor and What Is Sensing?
    2. Introduction to the Key Sensing Modalities
    3. Mechanical Sensors
    4. Optical Sensors
    5. Semiconductor Sensors
    6. Electrochemical Sensors
    7. Biosensors
    8. Application Domains
    9. Sensor Characteristics
    10. Summary
    11. References
  13. CHAPTER 3: Key Sensor Technology Components: Hardware and Software Overview
    1. Smart Sensors
    2. Sensor Systems
    3. Sensor Platforms
    4. Microcontrollers for Smart Sensors
    5. Interfaces and Embedded Communications
    6. Sensor Communications
    7. Power Management and Energy Harvesting
    8. Microcontroller Software and Debugging
    9. Summary
    10. References
  14. CHAPTER 4: Sensor Network Topologies and Design Considerations
    1. Sensor Network Components
    2. Sensor Network Topologies
    3. Sensor Network Applications
    4. Sensor Network Features and Challenges
    5. Summary
    6. References
  15. CHAPTER 5: Processing and Adding Vibrancy to Sensor Data
    1. Data Literacy
    2. The Internet of Things
    3. Sensors and the Cloud
    4. Data Quality
    5. Fusing Sensor Data
    6. Data Mining
    7. Data Visualization
    8. Big Sensor Data
    9. Summary
    10. References
  16. CHAPTER 6: Regulations and Standards: Considerations for Sensor Technologies
    1. Regulation of Medical Devices
    2. Standards for Medical Devices
    3. Regulation of Environmental Sensors
    4. Challenges
    5. Summary
    6. References
  17. CHAPTER 7: The Data Economy of Biosensors
    1. The Evidence Base
    2. Why Building Technologies for “Should” Rarely Helps
    3. The Consequences of Designing for “Should”
    4. Why Designing for “Could” Matters
    5. Requirements for a Data Economy of “Could”
    6. Summary
    7. References
  18. CHAPTER 8: Sensor Deployments for Home and Community Settings
    1. Healthcare Domain Challenges
    2. Study Design
    3. Home Deployment Elements
    4. Home Deployment Management
    5. Remote Deployment Framework
    6. The Prototyping Design Process
    7. Data Analytics and Intelligent Data Processing
    8. Case Studies
    9. Lessons Learned
    10. Summary
    11. References
  19. CHAPTER 9: Body-Worn, Ambient, and Consumer Sensing for Health Applications
    1. Changing the Way We Do Healthcare
    2. Sensing Context in Health Applications
    3. Hospital and Community-Based Sensing for Assessment and Diagnosis
    4. Community-Based Sensing
    5. Home-Based Clinical Applications
    6. Self-care Diagnostic Test Kits
    7. Key Drivers and Challenges
    8. The Future of Sensor-Based Applications for Healthcare
    9. Summary
    10. References
  20. CHAPTER 10: Wellness, Fitness, and Lifestyle Sensing Applications
    1. Drivers and Barriers: Sports and Fitness Sensing
    2. Sports and Fitness Applications
    3. Activity and Well-Being
    4. The Future of Sensor-Based Wellness, Fitness, and Lifestyle Applications
    5. Summary
    6. References
  21. CHAPTER 11: Environmental Monitoring for Health and Wellness
    1. Drivers of Environmental Sensing
    2. Barriers to Adoption
    3. Environmental Parameters
    4. Water Quality Monitoring
    5. Radiation Sensing
    6. Environmental Impact on Food
    7. Future Directions for Environmental Monitoring
    8. Summary
    9. References
  22. CHAPTER 12: Summary and Future Trends
    1. So Far
    2. Into the Future
    3. References
  23. Index

Product information

  • Title: Sensor Technologies: Healthcare, Wellness and Environmental Applications
  • Author(s): Michael J. McGrath, Cliodhna Ní Scanaill
  • Release date: December 2013
  • Publisher(s): Apress
  • ISBN: 9781430260134