The Internet of Bodies: Exploring the Intersection of Tech and Health
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Our physical forms are both precious and sacred, housing our consciousness and spirit. The concept of linking our biological selves to the digital realm is known as the Internet of Bodies (IoB). This digitization raises significant concerns among experts in the field.
Having spent several years in the Internet of Things (IoT) domain, I find this topic to be both intriguing and alarming. I've expressed my worries regarding safety, security, and privacy in various articles and a book. The term IoB has gained traction in media and academic discussions since 2016.
IoB encompasses both the Internet of Bodies and the Internet of Behaviors, though they are distinct concepts. My literature review revealed only one paper focused on behavior, which I have cited. Thus, this article will concentrate on the more widely discussed Internet of Bodies.
Proponents of the IoB envision benefits such as brain implants enabling disabled individuals to control prosthetics, innovative stents monitoring blood clots, and artificial pancreases regulating blood sugar for diabetics. With smart devices integrated into our bodies, deaf individuals could hear and blind individuals could see, fostering deeper connections between the physical and virtual realms.
Currently, we are witnessing advancements in technology such as neuro-stimulators, bionic limbs, DNA sequencing with quantum technology, and nanoparticles for diagnosing and treating cancer, all of which can enhance our physical and mental well-being.
Conversely, skeptics worry that IoB devices may infringe on our privacy, pose significant risks to bodily integrity, and lead to a loss of control over our own bodies in the digital landscape.
Both perspectives hold merit. While the IoB can offer numerous health benefits, it also introduces serious challenges related to safety, privacy, and personal autonomy.
I identify as a technology enthusiast, yet I remain cautious about the implications of the Internet of Bodies. I have been diligently following developments in this area, reading various articles, papers, and books. Some readers have inquired about the relationship between IoB and the Internet of Behavior, which I will clarify here.
In this piece, rather than solely sharing my concerns, I aim to provide a broader viewpoint by reviewing credible sources. I will also explain the meanings of these two terms and their impacts on technology, health, and economic factors.
At present, IoB data collection primarily occurs through external devices like smartwatches or fitness trackers, analyzed by proprietary software from private companies. However, long-term use may shift towards gathering data from internal organs, including the brain, facilitated by a network supported by Internet protocols.
The current landscape is largely unregulated, presenting severe risks for sensitive personal data—not only for individuals but also at a national level. For instance, in 2018, reports emerged about US soldiers inadvertently disclosing sensitive information while jogging.
A Brief Review of Literature on the Internet of Bodies (IoB)
Let's begin our review with a striking scenario described in the article titled Searching for Privacy on the Internet of Bodies:
> “It’s the year 2075, and the newest generation doesn’t remember life before AI (Artificial Intelligence). Even more frightening, they don’t know the meaning of personal privacy — at least not in the way their grandparents remember it. Someone is always watching you, whether the government, your employer, insurance companies, the bad date you had last week, or some random hacker. Personalized surveillance is just a fact of life now. Nothing lives or dies without being monitored.”
As highlighted in the IEEE article The Internet of Bodies Needs a Human Data Model, “Today, creating innovative Internet of Bodies solutions requires manually gathering the needed information from an increasing number of services and personal devices.”
The same article addresses this issue by proposing a Human Data Model framework to combine information from various sources, perform computations, and facilitate proactive computer-human interactions.
According to a paper on HeinOnline, “the challenges of IoB are not purely legal in nature. The social integration of IoB will also not be seamless. As bits and bodies meld and as human flesh become permanently entwined with hardware.”
A study published in IEEE Internet Computing discusses innovations in the IoB and Internet of Sports, stating that “as healthcare solutions and augmented monitoring of human mobility overlap with the new concepts of the Internet of Things.”
A paper in the Wiley Online Library titled From the Internet of Things toward the Internet of Bodies: Ethical and Legal Considerations indicates that “the proliferation of the Internet of Things makes the grey area of ethics darker and lighter simultaneously, and the law is currently not construed to accompany the steady progression toward the Internet of Bodies. The future calls for a balance between divergent interests of appealing technological progress and vital human safety.”
This research further asserts that “the Internet of Things is challenging the traditional construct of ownership, and users are progressively losing control over their IoT devices. The Internet of Bodies is the awaiting new normal where human bodies and minds form a connected network pervaded by the Internet. The integrity of human bodies will rely more and more on the Internet.”
The IEEE Internet of Things Journal outlines that “The Internet of Bodies is an imminent extension to the vast Internet of Things domain, where interconnected devices (e.g., worn, implanted, embedded, swallowed, etc.) located in-on-and-around the human body form a network. Thus, the IoB can enable a myriad of services and applications for a wide range of sectors, including medicine, safety, security, wellness, and entertainment.”
Furthermore, the paper notes that “considering the recent health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19, the IoB can revolutionize today’s public health and safety infrastructure. Nonetheless, reaping the full benefit of IoB is still subject to addressing related risks, concerns, and challenges.”
This study presents a systematic overview of channel modeling issues for various human body communication types below 100 MHz, as well as narrowband channels between 400 MHz and 2.5 GHz, and ultra-wideband channels from 3 to 10 GHz.
The paper titled The Internet of Bodies: Life and Death in the Age of AI warns that “the Internet of Bodies exposes us to unprecedented privacy and cybersecurity vulnerabilities, introducing conflicts across regulatory regimes. Societies must engage in dialogue to identify human value.”
According to another article on Springer, “via the Internet of Bodies, our physical and virtual worlds are blending and shifting.” It addresses three areas: “1) our identities are diversifying, becoming hyper-enhanced and multi-sensory; 2) our collaborations are co-created, immersive and connected; 3) our innovations are diverse and inclusive. It is proposed that our bodies have finally become the interface.”
The title of the article poses a thought-provoking question: “The ‘Internet of Bodies’ Is Here. Are Courts and Regulators Ready?” It addresses the legal and policy challenges arising from a network of intelligent devices attached to or implanted in bodies.
The paper highlights that “the US FDA is responsible for ensuring that medical implants are safe, but the FDA deemed healthy-lifestyle IoB devices such as fitness trackers to generally fall outside the agency’s purview. Thus, under the FDA’s current approach, some IoB devices wouldn’t necessarily have to meet the more stringent safety standards, though they would be subject to federal product-safety and unfair-trade-practices laws like any other electronic device.”
This research designs a physiological state monitoring system that uses wearable devices and sensors on athletes to collect physiological parameters and monitor their status. Physiological signals, such as electrocardiogram heart rate and body temperature, are transmitted via the Internet of Bodies for further analysis. If an abnormal condition is detected, an alarm or warning is sent out, allowing coaches to intervene and prevent potential harm to the athletes.
The paper discusses the Internet of Bodies as a significant advancement in the digitization of the human body, highlighting its potential to connect human bodies to a network that allows for remote monitoring and control. These devices can communicate information discreetly or through gestures made by the user.
For the transformative potential of IoB, the paper suggests “considering smart pills that transmit information from inside our body; smart beds that track heart rates and breathing; smart clothes that sense body temperature and adjust smart thermostats; and smart toilets for long-term analysis of waste.” It features Tamara Banbury, who identifies as a voluntary cyborg.
However, the paper raises the question of “Are We Ready for the Internet of Bodies?” and points out the inherent dangers, cautioning that “any device can be hacked, including those implanted within the human body. We must carefully consider the privacy and security implications of devices that accompany us throughout our lives.” Nonetheless, researchers also emphasize the life-changing, life-saving potential of technologies that intimately understand us.
This recent study envisions cybernetic cities in a posthuman era and proposes a design for the Internet of Bodies that intriguingly interweaves the concepts of transhumanism and techno-humanism. Researchers illustrate potential outcomes resulting from the convergence of IoT and IoB in future smart cities.
This position paper, subtitled The Human Body as an Efficient and Secure Wireless Channel, aims to provide a glimpse into opportunities created by implantable, injectable, digestible, and wearable IoB devices. It begins by discussing specific design goals, technical challenges, and communication standards.
The paper elaborates on how the highly radiative nature of radio frequency systems often leads to inefficiencies due to excessive coverage, which in turn causes interference and susceptibility to eavesdropping. Body channel communication offers a more secure and efficient alternative by inherently coupling signals to the human body.
This technical paper notes that “even though on-body IoB communications are required to occur within very close proximity of the human body, on-body wireless radio frequency IoB devices unnecessarily extend their coverage range beyond the human body due to their radiative nature. This ultimately reduces energy efficiency, causes coexistence and interference issues, and exposes sensitive personal data to security threats.”
The Internet of Bodies is closely related to the Internet of Behavior. Unfortunately, my search of the technical literature revealed only one academic paper addressing the Internet of Behavior. Additionally, Gartner mentioned the Internet of Behavior in its 2021 Technology Trends report as an emerging technology.
This paper explains that “the Internet of Behavior (IoB) aims to examine how data can be better understood and utilized to develop and market new products from a psychological perspective. This technology will serve as a compelling new platform for marketing and distribution by public and private entities alike.”
To conclude this review, I would like to share thought-provoking questions posed by literary critic David Wills: “Where does my body begin? Where does it end? What is inside my body? What is outside? What is primary? What is secondary? What is natural? What is artificial? What is original? What is supplemental?”
Conclusions
The critical question remains: Are we prepared to embrace the Internet of Bodies? Personally, I believe we are far from ready. Given the uncertainties and alarming growth of the Internet, sharing our bodily information may prove to be a reckless choice.
While innovations like digital pills that inform doctors when we have taken our medication, or digital diapers that alert parents when babies need changing, are promising, the Internet is not equipped to handle such sensitive information securely.
Until rigorous clinical trials are conducted, clear definitions are established by standard-setting organizations, and stringent ethical and regulatory frameworks are implemented, the concept of IoB will remain an intriguing idea rather than a practical reality.
With these essential measures in place, we may not eliminate all risks, but we can manage and mitigate them as we gain more understanding. Without such safeguards, considering the IoB in everyday life resembles leaping into an expansive ocean without knowing how to swim.
In a more optimistic view, Ghislaine Boddington paints a hopeful picture of IoB in her TED Talk. Recognized with the IX Immersion Experience Visionary Pioneer Award for her innovative work in digital arts, Boddington's passion for embodied intelligence is evident in her presentation titled Future Love: The Internet of Bodies from 2016. I wish the world could be as safe and reliable as she envisions.
Biotechnology has achieved significant advancements in healthcare and genetics. Medical professionals are utilizing secure channels to safely deploy some healthcare devices. However, the use of these devices in an online environment is not as straightforward as offline usage. Furthermore, all technological devices, including those powered by artificial intelligence, are susceptible to human error.
To enhance your understanding, I recommend watching this brief video presented by The RAND Corporation on YouTube.
Thank you for engaging with my insights.