General Abstract

ABSTRACT

Human society is entering an era of ubiquitous computing, when networks are seamlessly interconnected and information is always accessible at our fingertips. Red Warmth T-Touch, Acton-Action stands for Red Tacton. Instead of relying on electromagnetic waves or light waves to carry data, Red Tacton uses weak electric fields on the surface of the body as a transmission medium. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) is pursuing research and development of an innovative Human Area Networking technology called Red Tacton 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 Red Tacton transceiver. Red Tacton 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. Red Tacton 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 Red Tacton.
Red Tacton is a break-through technology that, for the first time, enables reliable highspeed 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.

1. Red Tacton uses the minute electric field emitted on the surface of the human body. Technically, it is completely distinct from wireless and infrared.
2. A transmission path is formed at the moment when a part of the human body comes in contact with a Red Tacton transceiver.
3. Using Red Tacton, communication starts when terminals carried by the user or embedded in devices are linked in various combinations according to the user's natural, physical movements.
4. Communication is possible using any body surfaces, such as the hands, fingers, arms, feet, face and legs. Red Tacton works through shoes and clothing as we

FUNCTIONAL FEATURES

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.
2. Using a Red Tacton 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 Red Tacton device in a pocket or through shoes to communicate with a Red Tacton device embedded in the floor.
3. Red Tacton 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 Red Tacton.

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. A simple handshake can transfer data. 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. By touching or standing in front of items they are interested in, consumers can get more in-depth information..