Technical Paper Title: REDTACTON
Authors: S. Lakshmi Lavanya & S. Kusuma, 1st B.Tech, ECE
College: Prakasam Engineering College – Kandukur
ABSTRACT
“REDTACTON” gives a whole new meaning to the term “networking”. It is a new personal areas network technology which uses weak electric fields on the surface of the human body, as a safe data transmission path, at speeds up to 10 Mbps.
RedTacton involves initiating communication with a touch that could result in a wide range of actions in response. It does not rely on electromagnetic or a light wave to transmit data. Technically, it is completely distinct from wireless and infrared. Using a new super-sensitive photonic electric field sensor, it can achieve duplex communication over human body. The RedTacton chips will be embedded in various devices, contain a transmitter and receiver built to send and accept data stored in a digital format. The data transfer between RedTacton enabled devices does not require any dialing or log-in, the data transfer would be practically instantaneous. While it is true that similar personal area networks are already accessible by using radio-based technologies like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, they are often hampered by intermittent service and will eventually be replaced by “human area networks.”
RedTacton can be used for intuitive operation of computer-based systems in daily life, temporary one-to-one private networks based on personal hand shaking, device personalization, security and a host of other applications. With the “RedTacton” system, we can envisage a future in which the human body acts as a non-stop conduit for information.
RED TACTON
INTRODUCTION:
RedTacton is a new Human Area Networking technology that uses the surface of the human body as a safe, high speed network transmission path. The name “Tacton” has originated, as the technology involves touch and action. The word “red” indicates warm and cordial communications.
RedTacton 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.
BACKGROUND:
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. The implementation of ubiquitous network services requires three levels of connectivity: Wide Area Networks (WAN), typically via the Internet, Local Area Networks (LAN), typically via Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity and Human Area Networks (HAN), for connectivity to personal information, media and communication appliances within the much smaller sphere of ordinary daily activities– the last one meter. NTT’s RedTacton is a break-through technology that, for the first time, enables reliable high-speed HAN which provides ubiquitous services based on human-centered interactions and therefore more intimate and easier for people to use.
TECHNICAL APPROACH OF REDTACTON:
RedTacton takes a different technical approach. Instead of relying on electromagnetic waves or light waves to carry data, RedTacton uses weak electric fields on the surface of the body as a transmission medium. A RedTacton transmitter couples with extremely weak electric fields on the surface of the body. The weak electric fields pass through the body to a RedTacton receiver, where the weak electric field affects the optical properties of an electro-optic crystal. The extent to which the optical properties are changed is detected by laser light which is then converted to an electrical signal by a detector circuit.
HOW RED TACTON WORKS??
Using a new super-sensitive photonic electric field sensor, 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 RedTacton receiver senses changes in the weak electric field on the surface of the body caused by the transmitter.
3. RedTacton relies upon the principle that the optical properties of an electro-optic crystal can vary according to the changes of a weak electric field.
4. RedTacton detects changes in the optical properties of an electro-optic crystal using a laser and converts the result to an electrical signal in a optical receiver circuit.
FEATURES OF REDTACTON:
RedTacton has three main functional features:
1)TOUCH: 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.
2)BROADBAND AND INTERACTIVE:
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.
Communication speed can deteriorate in crowded spaces due to a lack of bandwidth. Device drivers can be downloaded instantly and executable programs can be quickly sent.
3) ANY MEDIA:
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.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
Five major application fields using RedTacton are introduced:
1)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.
Elimination of Human Error.
2) Intuitive operations:
Communication is triggered by totally natural human actions and behavior, so there is no need to insert smart cards, connect cables, tune frequencies, or any of the other inconveniences usually associated with today’s electronic devices.
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.
3) Device Personalization’s:
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.
Personalization of Mobile Phones:
Your own phone number is allocated and billing commences.
Automatic importing of personal address book and call history.
4) 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.
5) Security applications:
RedTacton could be 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. At the same time, all the transaction details and relevant user attributes (personal identity, security clearance, etc.) could be logged by the security system.
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.
Automatic access log for confidential document storage: 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.
COMMUNICATIONS IN NEW DOMAINS:
PROTOTYPES:
NTT has made three types of protocols:
1) Redtacton Transceiver (PC card type)
2) Redtacton Transceiver (Hub type)
3) Redtacton Device (Box type)
CONCLUSION:
Human society is entering an era of ubiquitous computing, when networks are seamlessly interconnected and information is always accessible at our fingertips. RedTacton is a break-through technology that, for the first time, enables reliable high-speed HAN. The advent of RedTacton technology by NTT is in itself revolutionary, which will likely be targeted for use in applications such as wireless headphones, wearable medical devices, security applications, point-of-sale interactions etc. This could get as simple as two people equipped with RedTacton devices being able to exchange data just by shaking hands.
REFERENCES:
ü http://www.redtacton.com/en/info/index.html
ü www.snant.com/fp/archives/red-tacton-one-for-the-transhumanists-among-us
ü http://www.redtacton.com/en/prototype/index.html
ü http://www.redtacton.com/en/tech/index.html
ü http://www.smartmobs.com/archive/2005/04/28/redtacton.html
ü http://www.newstarget.com/006276.html
ü http://www.brl.ntt.co.jp/