**7. Future research directions**

The UWB channel has been measured and modelled extensively in recent years. Experimental WBANs using this technology have been developed and studied. Now that standards are in place the expectations, for the near future, is to have actual deployment of UWB BANs in medical environments.

Commercial applications of UWB have been limited to situations where precise localization is needed. Once medical applications are deployed the excellent ranging characteristics of the UWB signals could also be used to localize patients and medical equipment.

More experimental work is needed to learn the capabilities of UWB to directly monitor human organ functions as well as the workings of medical implants. In addition to experimental work, there is the need to develop accurate mathematical models that can be used in simulation studies as well as in 3D immersion systems.

Assuming UWB WBANs are widely deployed long term future applications is their use to extend their range and data delivery capabilities by having the BANs work in a cooperative fashion (Kaveh et al., 2011).
