08-02-2010, 09:32 AM
Abstract
This paper describes a novel networking technology, called RedTacton, developed by NTT. RedTacton could ultimately let people transfer data to each other's handhelds by means of a handshake or a slap on the back. Using a transmitter embedded in, say, a PDA, RedTacton sends a 5-volt pulse along the surface of the body. The human body shunts most of this electricity to the ground, resulting in a weak electric field that can be modulated to carry signals. The receiver is located either on another part of the body - a component of a hands-free headset or in an acquaintance's PDA. As it senses modulations in the electric field, the receiver decodes them to recover the data. While a good idea, RedTacton unfortunately has no compelling applications that aren't already available. It doesn't work reliably yet and has also been experiencing face perception problems among the general public.
This paper describes a novel networking technology, called RedTacton, developed by NTT. RedTacton could ultimately let people transfer data to each other's handhelds by means of a handshake or a slap on the back. Using a transmitter embedded in, say, a PDA, RedTacton sends a 5-volt pulse along the surface of the body. The human body shunts most of this electricity to the ground, resulting in a weak electric field that can be modulated to carry signals. The receiver is located either on another part of the body - a component of a hands-free headset or in an acquaintance's PDA. As it senses modulations in the electric field, the receiver decodes them to recover the data. While a good idea, RedTacton unfortunately has no compelling applications that aren't already available. It doesn't work reliably yet and has also been experiencing face perception problems among the general public.
