VIRFIM: an AI and Internet of Medical Things-driven framework for healthcare using smart sensors

Abstract

After affecting the world in unexpected ways, the virus has started mutating which is evident with the insurgence of its new variants. The governments, hospitals, schools, industries, and humans, in general, are looking for a potential solution in the vaccine which will eventually be available, but its timeline for eradicating the virus is yet unknown. Several researchers have encouraged and recommended the use of good practices such as physical healthcare monitoring, immunity boosting, personal hygiene, mental healthcare, and contact tracing for slowing down the spread of the virus. In this article, we propose the use of smart sensors integrated with the Internet of Medical Things to cover the spectrum of good practices in an automated manner. We present hypothetical frameworks for each of the good practice modules and propose the VIrus Resistance Framework using the Internet of Medical Things (VIRFIM) to tie all the individual modules in a unified architecture. Furthermore, we validate the realization of VIRFIM framework with two case studies related to physical activity monitoring and stress detection services. We envision that VIRFIM would be influential in assisting people with the new normal for current and future pandemics as well as instrumental in halting the economic losses, respectively. We also provide potential challenges and their probable solutions in compliance with the proposed VIRFIM.