News Update
R&D: Communications
Tokyo-based Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp is researching and developing an Human Area Networking technology called RedTacton. This uses weak electric fields on the surface of
the body as the transmission medium path, with speeds of up to 10Mb/s between any two points on the body. The key elements are lasers and an electro-optic sensor.
Human body-surface transmission
Using an electro-optic sensor, NTT has developed a small PCMCIA card-sized prototype, RedTacton transceiver (Figure 1) where a sensor that bounces a laser beam off an electro-optic crystal measures the reflected beam. Oscillations in the electric field surrounding the crystal affect the crystal, which changes the reflected lights polarisation enabling the first practical human area network between body-centred electronic devices and PCs or other [Link] can be embedded in the environment via a new generation of user interface based on human actions such as touching, holding, sitting, walking, or stepping on a specific spot. RedTacton can be used for intuitive operation of computer-based systems in daily life; as in temporary one-to-one private networks, based on handshakes, device personalisation, security, based on new behaviour patterns enabled by RedTacton. NTT is committed to moving RedTacton out of the laboratory and into commercial production as quickly as possible by organising joint field trials with partners outside the company, under a comprehensive producer [Link] three major functional features are: A communications path can be created with a simple touch, automatically initiating a flow of data between a body-centric electronic device and an environment-embedded computer, so people with RedTacton devices could exchange calling card data just by shaking hands. Using the RedTacton electro-optic sensor, two-way communication is supported between any two points on the body at a throughput of up to 10Mb/s and is not just confined to the surface of the body, but can travel through clothing to a device in a pocket or shoes to communicate with a device embedded in the floor. Transmission speed does not deteriorate even with large crowds all communicating simultaneously in meeting rooms, auditoriums or stores. Because the body surface is the transmission path, this increases the number of connected users directly to the available number of individual communication channels. smart cards, connect cables, tune frequencies, or any of the other inconveniences associated with todays electronic devices. Device personalisation allows setup, registration, and configuration information for an individual user to be uploaded to a device, the instant the device is touched, eliminating the need for the advance configuration and registration. New behaviour patterns since 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, as in a users instant access to the Internet by placing a laptop onto a conductive tabletop. Security applications with the system 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 while the transaction details and user attributes could be logged by the security system. NTT is to conduct joint field trials in co-operation with companies to explore potential applications, verify reliability, fine-tune and gather business and market [Link] are planned from April to September, 2005. NTT will lend selected partners RedTacton transceiver prototypes (Figure 2). Inquiries or proposals to participate in joint field trials can be submitted through the RedTacton website: [Link]
Figure 2 RedTacton PC card prototype with 10Mb/s speed, TCP/IP protocols, half duplex and PCMCIA interface. A hub type tranceiver with the same speed, protocols and communication method has an RJ45 interface. A box device, under development has, as yet, undetermined speeds and interfaces.
Figure 1 RedTacton transmitter
A wide range of materials can be used as a transmission medium, provided it is conductive and [Link] includes liquids, metals, certain plastics, glass, etc. Using structures such as tables and walls, a seamless communication environment can be constructed at very low cost. (Constraints are imposed by length and environment of the propagating conductor, and dielecric thickness.) Application potentials are: One-to-One services, sending attribute data from personal information devices worn on the body to computers embedded in the environment, tailored to the individual needs of the user. Intuitive operation of personal information devices without the need to insert
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III-Vs REVIEW THE ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR MAGAZINE VOL 18 - NO 2 - MARCH 2005