with a normalized profile function When a radiofrequency source with current density j(r) is placed above the body, the modes are excited with amplitude Since e–(r) extends evanescently in the z direction, contactless excitation is efficient within a distance comparable to the decay length a $^{1}$above the surface. In contrast, conventional waveguides, such as coaxial cables and microstrip lines, lack such an evanescent field and typically cannot be efficiently excited by nearby sources without specialized connectors. [00115] The metamaterial can interact with a standard wireless device through the current density j(r) generated by its built-in antenna without any modification, although it should be noted that the excitation does not depend on conventional performance metrics such as directivity and gain. The orientation dependence of the interaction can be evaluated by approximating j(r) by its electric = [p ( )] dipole moment p centred at ro. Equation(2) then reduces to which shows that the dipole excites surface waves as long as it has a non-zero longitudinal (x) or vertical (z) component, because surface plasmon-like modes are transverse-magnetic. [00116] Based on these physical considerations, the metamaterial must satisfy the following strict requirements to interconnect wireless networks with surface plasmon-like modes: (1) it must support a surface plasmon dispersion relation with cutoff frequency above the 2.4 2.5-GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band, (2) the field in the lower region must be screened such that a 2 to minimize coupling with the body and (3) the wavenumber of the surface modes must correspond to a decay length a $^{1}$on the order of a few centimeters. These conditions are not met with existing metamaterials based on metal sheets or printed circuit boards. To develop a textile platform that meets these requirements, a metamaterial using a numerical optimization procedure for the planar structure in FIG. 1B is to be used. [001 17] This metamaterial structure consists of a planar comb-shaped pattern on the top layer (previously used as a plasmonic metamaterial), an intermediate fabric layer and a bottom layer comprising an un-patterned metallic conductor. The design procedure yields geometrical parameters such that the combined structure supports a surface plasmon dispersion that satisfies the requirements