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Human society is entering an era of ubiquitous computing, when networks are
seamlessly interconnected and information is always accessible at our
fingertips. The practical implementation of ubiquitous services requires three
levels of connectivity: Wide Area Networks (WAN), typically via the Internet, to
remotely connect all types of severs and terminals; Local Area Networks (LAN),
typically via Ethernet or WiFi connectivity among all the information and
communication appliances in offices and homes; and Human Area Networks (HAN) for
connectivity to personal information, media and communication appliances within
the much smaller sphere of ordinary daily activities- the last one
meter.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), headquartered in Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo, is pursuing research and development of an innovative Human Area
Networking (HAN) technology called RedTacton that safely turns the surface of
the human body into a data transmission path at speeds up to 10 Mbps between any
two points on the body.
Using a novel electro-optic sensor, NTT has already developed a small PCMCIA
card-sized prototype RedTacton transceiver. RedTacton enables the first
practical Human Area Network between body-centered electronic devices and PCs or
other network devices embedded in the environment via a new generation of user
interface based on totally natural human actions such as touching, holding,
sitting, walking, or stepping on a particular spot.
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| Principle of RedTacton Communication |
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RedTacton can be used for intuitive operation of computer-based systems in
daily life, temporary one-to-one private networks based on personal handshaking,
device personalization, security, and a host of other applications based on new
behavior patterns enabled by RedTacton. NTT is committed to moving RedTacton out
of the laboratory and into commercial production as quickly as possible by
organizing joint field trials with partners outside the company, under NTT's
comprehensive producer program.
NTT's RedTacton is a break-through technology that, for the first time,
enables reliable high-speed HAN. In the past, Bluetooth, infrared communications
(IrDA), radio frequency ID systems (RFID), and other technologies have been
proposed to solve the "last meter" connectivity problem. However, they
each have various fundamental technical limitations that constrain their usage,
such as the precipitous fall-off in transmission speed in multi-user
environments producing network
congestion.
Different Tech Approach
RedTacton takes a different technical approach. Instead of relying on
electromagnetic waves or light waves to carry data, RedTacton uses weak electric
fields on the surface of the body as a transmission medium. A RedTacton
transmitter couples with extremely weak electric fields on the surface of the
body. The weak electric fields pass through the body to a RedTacton receiver,
where the weak electric fields affect the optical properties of an electro-optic
crystal. The extent to which the optical properties are changed is detected by
laser light, which is then converted to an electrical signal by a detector
circuit.
The three major functional features of RedTacton are highlighted below:
(1)
A communications path can be created with a simple touch, automatically
initiating the flow of data between a body-centric electronic device and a
computer that is embedded in the environment. For example, two people equipped
with RedTacton devices could exchange data just by shaking hands. A wide range
of natural human actions - grasping, sitting down, walking, or standing in a
particular place - can be used to trigger RedTacton to start a networked
process.
(2) Using a RedTacton electro-optic sensor, two-way communication is
supported between any two points on the body at a throughput of up to 10 Mbps.
Communication is not just confined to the surface of the body, but can travel
through the user's clothing to a RedTacton device in a pocket or through shoes
to communicate with a RedTacton device embedded in the floor. Unlike wireless
technologies, the transmission speed does not deteriorate even in the presence
of large crowds of people all communicating at the same time in meeting rooms,
auditoriums or stores. Because the body surface is the transmission path,
increasing the number of connected users directly increases the available number
of individual communication channels.
(3) RedTacton can utilize a wide range of materials as a transmission medium,
as long as the material is conductive and dielectric, which includes water and
other liquids, various metals, certain plastics, glass, etc. Using ordinary
structures such as tables and walls that are familiar and readily available, one
could easily construct a seamless communication environment at very low cost
using RedTacton . (Note that constraints are imposed by the length and
environment of the propagating conductor, and by the thickness of the
dielectric.)
Potential Applications
One-to-One services: With the ability to send attribute data from personal
information devices worn on the body to computers embedded in the environment,
one-to-one services could be implemented that are tailored to the individual
needs of the user.
Intuitive operation of personal information devices: Communication is
triggered by totally natural human actions and behavior, so there is no need to
insert smart cards, connect cables, tune frequencies, or any of the other
inconveniences usually associated with today's electronic devices.
Device personalization: Setup, registration, and configuration information
for an individual user can all be uploaded to a device the instant the device is
touched, eliminating the need for the device to be registered or configured in
advance.
New behavior patterns: Tables, walls, floors and chairs can all act as
conductors and dielectrics, turning furniture and other architectural elements
into a new class of transmission medium. For example, a user could have instant
access to the Internet merely by placing a laptop onto a conductive tabletop.
Security applications: RedTacton could be installed on doors, cabinets and
other locations calling for secure access, such that each secure access could be
initiated and authenticated with a simple touch. At the same time, all the
transaction details and relevant user attributes (personal identity, security
clearance, etc.) could be logged by the security system.
Nelson Johny
(Compiled from NTT releases)
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