What is RedTacton ?

RedTacton is a new Human Area Networking technology that uses the

surface of the human body as a safe, high speed network transmission path.
-RedTacton uses the minute electric fieldemitted on the surface of the
human body. Technically, it is completely distinct from wireless and
infrared.
-A transmission path is formed at the moment a part of the human body
comes in contact with a RedTacton transceiver. Physically separating ends
the contact and thus ends communication.
-Using RedTacton, 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.
-Communication is possible using any body surfaces, such as the hands,
fingers, arms, feet, face, legs or torso. RedTacton works through shoes and
clothing as well.
How RedTacton Works ?

RedTacton can achieve duplex communication over the human body at a maximum speed of 10 Mbps.

1. The RedTacton transmitter induces a weak electric field on the surface of the body.
2. The electric field sensor (transistor or photonic electric field sensor) detects electric field that reaches
the RedTacton receiver.
3. Signals are processed in the receiver circuit and the data is downloaded.
Mechanism of communication with RedTacton:

The transmitter sends data based on fluctuations in the weak electric field
induced in the body. The electric field is received using super-sensitive
electric field sensing technology.

- The naturally occurring electric field induced on the surface of the human body dissipates into the
earth. Therefore, this electric field is exceptionally faint and unstable.
- The super-sensitive electric field sensing technology measures the weak electric fields induced by
the super-efficient alternating electric field induction technology developed by NTT.
About Human area network ?

In addition to the WANs (Internet) and LANs, there are applications best served by Human Area
Networks (HANs) that connect the last meter.

Human society is entering an era of ubiquitous computing, where everything is networked.

By making Human Area Networks feasible, RedTacton will enable ubiquitous services based on human-
centered interactions and therefore more intimate and easier for people to use.
Three Features:

RedTacton has three main functional features.

Touching, gripping, sitting, walking, stepping and other human movements

can be the triggers for unlocking or locking, starting or stopping equipment,
or obtaining data.
Using RedTacton, communication starts when terminals carried by the user or
embedded in devices are linked in various combinations through physical contact
according to the human's natural movements.
Duplex, interactive communication is possible at a maximum speed of
10Mbps. Because the transmission path is on the surface of the body,
transmission speed does not deteriorate in congested areas where many
people are communicating at the same time.

* Maximum communication speed may be slower than 10Mbps depending

on the usage environment.

Communication speed can Device drivers can be downloaded

deteriorate in crowded spaces due to instantly and executable programs
a lack of bandwidth. can be quickly sent.

Taking advantage of this speed, device drivers can be downloaded instantly

and execute programs can be sent.

In addition to the human body, various conductors and dielectrics can be

used as transmission media. Conductors and dielectrics may also be used in
combination.
A communication environment can be created easily and at low-cost by
using items close at hand, such as desks, walls, and metal objects.

* There are limitations on the length of the conductor to be propagated, on

installation locations, and on the thickness of the dielectric to be passed
through.
Five major application fields using RedTacton are introduced.

Enable one-to-one services tailored to the user's situation and tastes.

-Attribute information recorded in the RedTacton device is sent to the
touched objects.
-The appropriate service is provided based on the attribute information
received by the RedTacton receiver.

-RedTacton devices embedded

medicine bottles transmit
information on the medicines'
attributes. If the user touches the
wrong medicine, an alarm will
trigger on the terminal he is
carrying.
-The alarm sounds only if the user
actually touches the medicine
bottle, reducing false alarms
common with passive wireless ID
tags, which can trigger simply by
proximity.

-Alert and contact record at medical, long-term care, and childcare

facilities.
-Avoidance of risk at construction sites (an alarm sounds if special
 equipment is handled by anyone other than supervisors)

-When a consumer stands in front

of an advertising panel,
advertising and information
matching his or her attributes is
automatically displayed.
-By touching or standing in front of
items they are interested in,
consumers can get more in-depth
information.

-Brochures only of products of interest to the visitor can be

downloaded automatically at trade shows.
-Inside a shop, shoppers can view related information on their mobile
terminals immediately after touching a product.

Natural movements and actions are the trigger.

There's no "operation" any more. Just intuitive human interaction.
-RedTacton transceivers embedded in two terminals can communicate not
only data but also the control or configuration instructions needed to
operate devices.
-Cable connections are eliminated. The body itself is used as transmission
medium.
 -Print out where you want just by
touching the desired printer with
one hand and a PC or digital
camera with the other hand to
make the link.
-Complicated configurations are
reduced by downloading device
drivers "at first touch".

- Display notebook PC screen on projectors with just a touch

- Transfer songs to portable music players from notebook PCs with just
a touch

-By shaking hands, personal profile

data can be exchanged between
mobile terminals on the users.
(Electronic exchange of business
cards)
-Communication can be kept
private using authentication and
encryption technologies.

-Group photos taken with digital cameras are instantly transferred to

individual's mobile terminal.
-Diagrams written on white boards during meetings are transferred to
individual's mobile terminals on the spot.

Digital lifestyle can be instantly personalized with just a touch.

-A pre-recorded configuration script can be embedded in a mobile terminal
with built-in RedTacton transceiver.
-When another device with RedTacton capabilities is touched,
personalization data and configuration scripts can be downloaded
automatically.

-Your own phone number is

allocated and billing commences.
-Automatic importing of personal
address book and call history.

-The PC is configured to the user's specifications simply by touching

the mouse.
-Room temperature and lighting are customized when a switch in the
living room is pressed.

-The seat position and steering

wheel height adjust to match the
driver just by sitting in the car.
-The driver's home is set as the
destination in the car navigation
system.
-The stereo plays the driver's
favorite song.

- Touching the TV remote control triggers a filter/search routine

 according to your personal programming preferences.

Automatic user authentication and log-in with just a touch.

-ID and privileges are recorded in a mobile RedTacton device.

-Corresponding RedTacton receivers are installed at security check points.

-The system can provide authentication and record who touched the device,
and when.

-Carrying a mobile RedTacton-

capable device in one's pocket, ID
is verified and the door unlocked
when the user holds the doorknob
normally.
-Secure lock administration is
possible by combining personal
verification tools such as
fingerprint ID or other biometric
in the mobile terminal.

-Automated car door lock/unlock just by touching the handle;

unlocking a bicycle just by sitting on it.
-
As a pass in amusement facilities
-A RedTacton receiver in a cabinet
where important documents are
stored enables lock administration
and keeps a record of who
accessed documents at what time.

-Seat reservation management by verifying that the right person is in

the right seat
-
Log and verification of the person who touched the terminal.

-Potential for use as

communication method in outer
space and under water

-Potential for use as

communication method with
devices inside the human body
The chart below shows the positioning of RedTacton with respect to
existing communication technologies. The focus on ubiquitous service has
brought about the shortening of distances in communication. RedTacton is
positioned as the last 1m solution to ultimate close-range communication.
Wireless communication creates connections when signals arrive, allowing
for easy connections because connectors are unnecessary. However, seen
from another aspect, the arriving signals can be intercepted, so security
becomes an issue. Wired communication transmits data between two
connection points, so interception is difficult and security can be considered
to be high. However, connectors and cables are a nuisance. Taking the
above points in account, RedTacton is situated directly between wireless
and wired communication. In other words, RedTacton allows for easy
connection without connectors, while at the same time allowing
transmission of data only between two contact points. It thus has the feature
of being difficult to intercept.
"Intra-body communication" using the human body as a transmission
medium have been reported, but the electric field/photonics method
employed by RedTacton is superior to conventional methods in terms of
communication distance, speed, and interactivity.

P: Possible
N: Not possible
P*: Possible under certain conditions

Duplex
communication
Signal & Distance  Between Contact status
Ground mobile
Detection &  Between with the
line terminals
system speed mobile electrode
and
terminals
external
equipment
Clear
The electrode
signal
Elbow to must be in
lines
Amperage fingertip constant contact
needed for N P*
electric at approx. with the body to
body and
3kbps maintain good
earth
conductivity
ground
Voltage Capacity Wrist to P* P* Communication
 coupling
between possible even
fingertip
the earth when passing
electric at approx.
ground through thin
1kbps
and insulators
equipment
Capacity
coupling
Electric Anywhere Communication
between
field on the possible even
the earth P P
electric body at through shoes
ground
(RedTacton) 230kbps and clothing
and
equipment
Capacity
coupling
Electric Anywhere Communication
between
field on the possible even
the earth P P
photonics body at up through shoes
ground
(RedTacton) to 10Mbps and clothing
and
equipment

RedTacton does not require the electrode be in direct contact with the skin.
High-speed communication is possible between two arbitrary points on the
body.

With the electric amperage method, a clear signal line and ground line are
required. With the electric voltage method, capacity coupling can substitute.
Therefore, the electrode does not have to be in direct contact with the skin.

¡@Suitability as Weak Wireless Station (Wireless station that does

not require license)
 
RedTacton meets the standard for weak wireless station as set by Japanese
telecommunication regulations (gWireless station not requiring license, h Radio
Law Enforcement Regulations Chapter 2, Section 1 Article 6) (see figure below).
■Security Devices (Development Completed)

Portable Card-Size Transmitter

・Transmission rate: 230Kbps

・Protocol: Proprietary protocol
・Transmission method: Unidirectional

Embedded Receiver

・Transmission rate: 230Kbps

・Protocol: Proprietary protocol
・Transmission method: Unidirectional
・External device interface:
　10/100BASE-T, RS232C

■Data Transmission Devices (in Development).

 
PC Card Transceiver

・Transmission rate: 10Mbp

・Protocol: TCP/IP
・Transmission method: Half-duplex
・Terminal interface: PCMCI

Embedded Receiver

・Transmission rate: 10Mbp

・Protocol: TCP/IP
・Transmission method: Half-duplex
・External device interface: 10BASE-T

USB Transceiver

・Transmission rate not yet determined

 (in testing stage)
What does the name "RedTacton" mean?

We created the word, "Tacton" because with this technology,

communication starts by touching (Touch), leading to various
actions (Act on). We then added the color red to convey the
meaning of warmth in communication. Combining these phrases
led to the name, "RedTacton".

How does RedTacton differ from other communication systems

that use the human body?

Several "human body communication" technologies using the

human body as a transmission medium have been reported in the
past. But RedTacton employs a proprietary electric field/photonics
method, which surpasses the other methods in terms of
communication distance, transfer speed, and interactivity.

What is the Super-sensitive electric field sensing technology used in

RedTacton like?

In security devices, transistors serve as sensors, and the electrode

structure is designed to perform virtual differential detection. For
communication devices, photonic electric field sensors are used.
Using laser beams, they detect fluctuations in the optical
properties of electro-optic crystals due to surrounding electric
fields.
Does RedTacton cause a weak shock, such as those caused by
static electricity?

In the case of static electric, a sudden flow of weak current into the body
from the outside causes the crackling sensation. RedTacton’s electrodes
are covered with an insulating material, so no electric shock occurs.

In addition to directly touching parts of the body, is it possible,

say, for a PC on the floor to communicate through the user's shoes
and socks with a mobile terminal he is holding or to communicate
with a mobile terminal through one's clothing? Also, what
happens if gloves are worn when holding the mobile terminal?

Communication is done by using an electric field induced on the surface

of the body. Communication is thus possible even when the user is
wearing shoes. Communication is also possible through clothing, but the
communication becomes unstable the farther away from the body it
occurs. When we tested the system with rubber gloves, communication
was possible with no problems.

Is communication possible near microwave ovens, wireless LANs,

Bluetooth equipment, and other devices that create noise or use
wireless technology?

RedTacton’s communication bandwidth differs from those of

other wireless methods, so there is no interference with other
wireless equipment. However, communication may not be
possible in circumstances where a source regularly produces noise
that includes frequencies used by RedTacton’s bandwidth.

Is communication more difficult with dry or oily skin? Does the

ease of communication vary according to the user?

Noticeable differences were not detected in our tests.

Can multiple RedTacton transceivers be used simultaneously?

RedTacton’s communication bandwidth differs from those of

other wireless methods, so there is no interference with other
wireless equipment. However, communication may not be
possible in circumstances where a source regularly produces noise
that includes frequencies used by RedTacton’s bandwidth.

Can communications be tapped by others?

The upper layer protocols have not been specified in the

RedTacton system. .So highly secure communication is possible
by combining the system with encryption and other procedures.

What type of signal is used for communication.

An electric field signal.

What media is the easiest for communication?

The surface of metals and other highly conductive materials are the
easiest for communication, but communication is also possible on the
surface of the human body, which is a quasi-conductor. Furthermore,
signals can pass through thin glass windows, flooring, and other
materials considered to be conductors using the same principle as a
capacitor. However, in such cases the communication distance is just a
few centimeters.

What is the soft interface for the prototype terminal?

The host can be connected by Ethernet or serial interface .

Are other hardware forms possible beside the prototype?

By customizing the interface, we believe it is possible to embed

RedTacton into various terminal devices, such as mobile phones.
 What is the status of patents for RedTacton?

NTT alone has applied for and been granted the basic patent both in
Japan and abroad. About 300 patents for circuits, sensors, and
applications are under application.

How will the commercialization of RedTacton proceed from here

on?

We plan to commercialize RedTacton by using NTT's

Comprehensive Producer Function, an initiative started by NTT in
July 2003 to innovate R&D management to overcome the "Valley
of Death," which lies between R&D activities and the conversion
of their results into business applications. Under the
Comprehensive Producer Function, a Producer is appointed to
take charge of converting R&D results into commercial products
or services in cooperation with various parties both within and
outside the NTT Group. Leveraging the comprehensive producer
function program, NTT is committed to quickly identifying and
opening up various application areas where RedTacton shows the
most commercial promise.

http://www.redtacton.com/en/info/index.html