Using what’s called “interscatter communication,”
small devices such as brain implants, contact lenses, credit cards and
wearables can talk to other devices like smartphones and watches.
University of Washington researchers have developed
a way for these small devices to communicate using Bluetooth signals
that convert into Wi-Fi transmissions.
“Wireless connectivity for implanted devices can
transform how we manage chronic diseases,” said co-author Vikram Iyer, a
UW electrical engineering doctoral student, in a report on the tech.
“For example, a contact lens could monitor a
diabetic’s blood sugar level in tears and send notifications to the
phone when the blood sugar level goes down.”
These types of devices tend to be too small, or
located in an area that limits the use of conventional wireless
transmission. UW engineers and computer scientists have found a way,
however, to use standard Wi-Fi transmission so these devices
can communicate, without the need for any specialized equipment.
“Instead of generating Wi-Fi signals on your own,
our technology creates Wi-Fi by using Bluetooth transmissions from
nearby mobile devices such as smartwatches,” said co-author Vamsi Talla
in the report. The technique they use for the process
is called “backscatter.” Devices are able to exchange info by
reflecting existing signals. The team is calling the process--which uses
Bluetooth signals to create Wi-Fi transmissions--“interscatter,” as it
enables inter-technology communication.
Mobile devices like smartphones or laptops serve as
both sources and receivers for reflected signals. The report gives an
example of the process using a smartwatch and a smart contact lens.
“Interscatter can enable Wi-Fi for these implanted devices while consuming only tens of microwatts of power”
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