A protocol for body centric networks

Wearable electronics has now been well established in universities and company research for several years, but despite several interesting forays into the marketplace for the technically aware there has not yet been a breakthrough in perception and desire among the general public. All the products that have been brought to market so far can be characterized as "boxes in pockets", where existing products have been enhanced with small incremental steps in interfaces, interconnection and wearability. Philips has, of course, been one of the contributors to testing these waters through relationships with both Levi's and Nike. In our opinion, the field of wearable electronics is now awaiting two significant breakthrough opportunities before it can really establish itself in its own right and move beyond an accessory and packaging exercise: "soft electronics" and body centric networks. This paper focuses on the need for a protocol to support the latter of these and the features that must be provided.