Wireless Sensor Networks 103
as temperature, movement, sound, light, or the presence of certain objects, inventory control
and disaster management are other similar applications.
The major requirement of environment sensors is the need for rugged operation in hostile
surroundings and extended sleep periods to maximize the lifetime of the network.
3. Medical applications: WSNs can be used in medical applications by using the sensor
node as a device that can reside on or within the human body and perform tasks that are cur-
rently done by costly machines. These include glucose monitors for continuous reading of in-
sulin levels in diabetic patients; heart monitors for keeping track of the functioning of the heart,
especially for patients with irregular ...