IEEE Access Special Section Editorial: Wearable and Implantable Devices and Systems

Circuit techniques, sensors, antennas and communications systems are envisioned to help build new technologies over the next several years. Advances in the development and implementation of such technologies have already shown us their unique potential in realizing next-generation sensing systems. Applications include wearable consumer electronics, healthcare monitoring systems, and soft robotics, as well as wireless implants. There have been some interesting developments in the areas of circuits and systems, involving studies related to low-power electronics, wireless sensor networks, wearable circuit behaviour, security, real-time monitoring, connectivity of sensors, and Internet of Things (IoT). The direction for the current technology is electronics systems on large area electronics, integrated implantable systems and wearable sensors. So far, the research in the field has focused on materials, new processing techniques and one-off devices, such as diodes and transistors. However, current technology is not sufficient for future electronics to be useful in new applications; a great demand exists to scale up the research towards circuits and systems. Recent developments indicate that, in addition to fabrication technology, special attention should also be given to design, simulation and modeling of electronics, while keeping sensing system integration, power management, and sensors network under consideration.