Industry health interoperability standards group Continua Health Alliance has selected Bluetooth wireless technology as a key standard for its next set of design guidelines.
Continua’s Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) said that the upcoming Bluetooth low energy wireless technology specification would be included in version two of its Continua Health Alliance design guidelines.
Bluetooth low energy technology is a power efficient, short-range, wireless technology that offers connectivity between mobile devices and small, battery powered devices such as watches, and health and fitness sensors.
The low energy technology features low power consumption, small size and low cost, and integration in mobile phones, making it suitable to enable mobile devices for a wide range of personal telehealth devices and services being developed using Continua standards.
The technology can enable low power mobile devices such as activity monitors and heart rate sensors to be used to monitor a user’s health and fitness levels.
“Continua’s choice of Bluetooth low energy technology – a specification in development at this time and expected to be adopted by the end of the year – underscores the excitement and need for this Bluetooth wireless standard in the telehealth arena,” said Michael Foley, PhD, executive director, Bluetooth SIG.
Bluetooth is the only wireless technology included in Continua’s design guidelines. The low energy wireless technology was chosen over several other wireless technologies after a rigorous 10-month review process.
“The Bluetooth SIG brings not only a superb wireless technology to our Design Guidelines, but a state-of-the-art testing and qualification program to our members,” said Rick Cnossen, Continua president and chairman of the Board of Directors. “The continued choice to work with Bluetooth wireless technology and the Bluetooth SIG is a natural extension for Continua.”
The radio selection process was conducted by members of the Continua low power radio sub-team, the Continua technical working group and the Continua board of directors. All teams were aided by experts from the technology and health care industries-at-large, as well as guided by research conducted by an independent third party analysis firm.
A rigorous process was employed over the course of 10 months to select from many outstanding technologies. After consideration of required power levels, cell phone ubiquity, required range, and anticipated market penetration, Bluetooth technology was chosen to satisfy the required use cases.
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