Special Issue – Body Sensor Networks
Nitish Thakor, Editor-In-Chief
This Issue features articles on wearable wireless Body Sensor Networks. With the advent of miniaturized sensors for monitoring physiological signals there is an increasing need for efficient, secure networks to integrate sensor data into a mobile network to allow continuous, remote monitoring of patients. IEEE Standards play a key role in these networks.
The IEEE 802.15.6™-2012 standard for Body Area Networks (aka BSN) is optimized to serve the wireless communications needs for ultra-low power devices operating either inside or around the human body. Art Astrin, chair of the IEEE 802.15.6 Task Group introduces the goals of this standard.
Daniel W. Bliss, of ASU, provides a system-level discussion of BSNs and their applications. He provides an example of the importance of bioengineers being intimately aware of the end user situation as they develop specific BSNs.
Giancarlo Fortino, of the University of Calabria, presents SPINE, an open-source framework for BSNs. SPINE has been applied in several BSNs. Its goal is to support development of efficient BSN Systems.
Benny Lo, of the Imperial College of London and the ESPRIT Programme, highlights the standards and regulatory requirements on translating BSN research projects to clinical applications.
Arthur W. Astrin received the Ph.D. E.E. from U.C.L.A. in Communication Engineering in 1984 and Master Degree in Mathematics from U.C. San Diego. He has worked for Apple Computer, Inc., IBM (where he achieved 100% club), Siemens, ROLM, Memorex and Citicorp in technical and management positions, where he developed several computer and communication systems. 
Daniel W. Bliss is an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University. Dan received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego (1997 and 1995), and his BSEE in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University (1989). 
Giancarlo Fortino is currently an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering (since 2006) at the Dept. of Informatics, Modeling, Electronics and Systems (DIMES) of the University of Calabria (Unical), Rende (CS), Italy. He received a Laurea Degree and a PhD in Computer Engineering from Unical in 1995 and 2000, respectively. 
Benny Ping Lai Lo is Lecturer at the Hamlyn Centre and the Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London. He also acts as the Programmer Manager of the ESPRIT Programme, a UK EPSRC and UK Sport funded programme.