Simon Prutton, Akros Silicon 

Ethernet offers the highest degree of robustness and interoperability for data-intensive networking. However, Ethernet’s inability to deliver both power and data over the same CAT-5 cable becomes a bigger issue as processing and intelligence moves closer to the edge of the network.
As a solution, the IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard introduced a means for delivering up to 13W to a “powered device,” such as a VOIP phone, from a PoE-enabled Ethernet switch or other “power sourcing equipment.” The upcoming 802.3at standard more than doubles that power level to 30W.
As a result, PoE is seeing rapid adoption in a wide range of markets seeking to add “plug-and-play” power capability to the system. PoE increases system flexibility to significantly reduce support and deployment costs, while eliminating the overhead associated with a separate power infrastructure. Because of IEEE’s standards-driven approach, 802.3 effectively allows engineers to realize these benefits in a way that ensures their systems will continue to work with the infrastructure...in today’s applications and in the networked world of the future.
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Jay Tyzzer, Nordic Semiconductor 

A Body Area Network (BAN) is a group of wireless sensors carried by a human, such as the Nike + iPod Sport Kit that uses a sneaker-based sensor and iPod Nano to enhance training.
BAN sensors must be light, compact and...inconspicuous. That means coin cells, and that means sensors that boast ultra low power consumption if those tiny batteries are to last nearer a year than a day.
For a one-size-fits all global wireless solution, the 2.4 GHz ISM band means interference. Employ a robust co-existence strategy within the BAN sensors. This isn’t aided by the human body’s 60% water content – a great electromagnetic radiation absorber.
BANs...must “plug and play”...out of the box. A 2.4 GHz RF transceiver for BAN applications should handle around 12 mA peak transmit/receive currents with average operating currents of 2 µA. When combined with an optimized protocol stack, a one-year battery life on a CR2032 coin cell is often achievable.
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Kurt Radtke, ZMD 

In automotive electronics, sensor and actuator and ECU applications do not demand expensive solutions...The data exchange...is implemented as analog signals, typically in a linear voltage range of 0.5V to 4.5V...due to the MCU on the ECU, which provides several analog inputs with required integrated ADCs. A resolution of 12 bits is almost always sufficient for this situation.  
When SSC-suppliers require a digital signal to adjust sensors, extra steps are taken to make the conversion, resulting in an increased accuracy of 16 bits.
There is PWM-signal processing (which) cannot be defined as a purely digital communication signal since the pulse modulation is still an analog component.
Rather than unnecessarily expensive systems...use digital signal processing for simple stand-alone sensors. When transmitting digital signals, implementation works well when based on communication standards like LIN or PAS.
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