Researchers at the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, are studying how wearable sensors might not only help keep elderly and chronically ill patients out of nursing homes, but also form the backbone of future mobile "body-to-body networks." Says Simon Cotton, one of the researchers, "If the idea takes off, BBNs could also lead to a reduction in the number of base stations needed to service mobile phone users, particularly in areas of high population density. This could help to alleviate public perceptions of adverse health associated with current networks and be more environmentally friendly due to the much lower power levels required for operation." Article