samido@student.ltu.

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Agenda
Introduction
Overview of Technology
HAN as a New Computing Realm
HAN & Technology
 RedTacton
 How It works
 Features
 Application

Comparison of Network(PAN) Technologies

Conclusion
Question
Human Area Network ?
 Introduction

Human Area network

An emerging field of
communications technology
with the potential to offer
significant advantages to
Pervasive computing.
(military operations, smart
home etc).
 Overview of Technology (1/2)

Is the idea of “Pervasive computing” really old?

-1988
Ubiquitous computing -“era
that replaces PCs with
invincible computers
embedded into everyday
Mark Weiser, 1952-1999
objects.”
Father and founder of
ubiquitous computing.
 Overview of Technology (2/2)
Pervasive Computing Network Technologies: WPAN

•Wi-Fi - [ IEEE 802.11 ].

• Bluetooth - [ IEEE 802.15.1 ].

•ZigBee - [ IEEE 802.15.4 ].

•and other RF technologies.

 Human
The mostArea Networks
frequent (HAN),
impacts exists
to an within the
individual Personal
areenabling
realized in
WAN
Human and
Area MAN :: fundamental
Networks as components
a New, “Adaptive”
Area
thoseNetwork (PAN) bubble.
regions proximate to him.
global interconnectivity.
Computing Realm (1/3)
Human Area Networks as a New, “Adaptive”
Computing Realm (2/3)
Human Area Networks as a New, “Adaptive”
Computing Realm (3/3)
 Human Area Network
• Its a new technology
which uses human body
as transmission media.
• It gives us safe and high
speed network
transmission.
• Uses weak electric fields
on the surface of the body
as a transmission medium.
Enabling Technology

RedTacton
 RedTacton (1/2)
• It leverages the conductive
properties of the human body to
transfer data among electronic
devices.

• Conceived and patented in the

mid-1990s by Neil Gershenfeld
and Thomas G. Zimmerman at the
MIT Media Lab.
 RedTacton (2/2)
 It is a new HAN technology that uses the surface
of the human body as a safe, high speed network
transmission path.

 Uses the minute electric

field emitted on the surface
of the human body.
 Technically, it is completely
distinct from wireless and
infrared.
How it Works (1/3)
How it Works (2/3)
 How it Works (3/3)

The RedTacton transmitter induces a weak

1 electric field on the surface of the body.

The electric field sensor (transistor or

2 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.
Block Diagram of Transceiver
Features of RedTacton

Max. speed of 10Mbps (Duplex)

RedTacton Prototypes
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

Web page: http://www.redtacton.com

 Application of HAN (1/2)
• One-to-one services : Marketing Application
(Context awareness)
Touch advertising & receive detailed information
 Inside a shop, shoppers can view related
information on their mobile terminals
immediately after touching a product.

•Intuitive Operations : private data exchange

 And since data can pass from one body to
another, you could also exchange electronic
business cards by shaking hands
 Application of HAN (2/2)
 Personalization:

 Security application
Comparing with other Network Technologies

Wideband Code Division

Multiple Access

Personal Digital Cellular

Personal Handy-phone System

Ultra Wideband
Comparison with other network
 Conclusion
 Unlike wireless, interception is difficult and security can
be considered to be high with RedTacton
 When we compare this with other technology present
today it can give a better performance over others
 It conforms to the “Radio Frequency-Exposure
protection Standard (RCR STD-38)” issued by the
Association of Radio Industries and Business (ARIB)
 Still undergoing development: doesn’t work reliably yet.
(common with emergence of new technology)
 Supports the vision & future of pervasive computing
 References
 Kado, Yuichi, “Human-Area Networking Technology as a Universal Interface”,
VLSI Circuits Digest Technical Papers, June 2009.
 Saranya S. and Srikkanth G. “Mr.Tacton (Mbedded Red Tacton) “, PElTS,,
2010.
 Harry Goldstein, “Loser: A Touch Too Much”, IEEE Spectrum, Jan. 2006.
 Mitsuru Shinagawa, Katsuyuki Ochiai, Hideki Sakamoto,and Toshiaki
Asahi,"Human Area Networking Technology: RedTacton" ,NTT Tech
Rev,VoI.3,No.5, May 2005.
 Brian T. Rideout, and James A. Strickland, “Military Application of Networking
by Touch in Collaborative Planning and Tactical Environments”, September
2007.
 Mitsuru Shinagawa, Katsuyuki Ochiai, Hideki Sakamoto,and Toshiaki
Asahi,"Human Area Networking Technology: RedTacton" ,NTT Tech
Rev,VoI.3,No.5, May 2005.
 Web page: http://www.redtacton.com
 Web page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RedTacton
Questions…