Human Area Networking (HAN) - Red Tacton

Human area networking technology for communication between mobile terminals and between terminals that are embedded in the environment has become important.When cables are used for communication between terminals,the routing of the cable is clearly inconvenient. When very weak radio signals are used for communication data speed are reduced by packet collision and other such problem in crowded place and such as exhibition sites and security risk from unwanted signals interception is another problem.Technology for solving such problem includes the use of person body as a signal path for communication.A transmission path is formed automatically when a person come in to contact with a device and communication between mobile terminals begins.

Red Tacton

Red Tacton is a new Human Area Networking technology that uses the surface of the human body as a safe, high speed network transmission path. It is completely distinct from wireless and infrared technologies as it uses the minute electric field emitted on the surface of the human body.A transmission path is formed at the  moment a  part  of  the  human body comes in contact  with  a  Red Tacton transceiver. Communication  is possible using any body surfaces, such as the hands, fingers, arms, feet, face,legs or torso. Red Tacton works through shoes and clothing as well.When the physical contact gets separated, the communication is ended .Using Red Tacton enabled devices, music from a digital audio player in your pocket would pass through your clothing and shoot over your body to headphones in your ears. Instead of fiddling around with a cable to connect your digital camera to your computer, you could transfer pictures just by touching the PC while the camera is around your neck. And since data can pass from one body to another, you could also exchange electronic business cards by shaking hands, trade music files by dancing cheek  to  cheek,  or  swap  phone  numbers just by kissing.Touch and action gives Tacton, and word Red a warm colour to emphasize warm and cordial communications.

Working of Red Tacton 

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.

  

MECHANISM OF RED TACTON

The Red Tacton chips,which will be embedded in various device contain a transmitter and receiver built to send and accept data stored in a digital format.The transmitter send data by inducing fluctuations in the minute electric field on the surface of the human body.The naturally occurring electric field induced on the surface of the human body dissipates   into  the   earth.Therefore,   this   electric   field  is  exceptionally  faint an unstable. Data  is  received  using  a  photonic  electric  field  sensor  that  combines  an electro- optic crystal and a laser light to detect fluctuations in the minute electric field.

 

Fig. Electric Fields Induced by the Red Tacton on Body Surface

   

                       Fig.  Data transfer by Red Tacton

         

Only a portion of the induced electric field is sensed by the receiving RED TACTON device. The remaining occurring electric field electric  fields  are  dissipated  to  the  ground.The      naturally induced on the surface of the human body dissipates into the earth. Therefore, this electric field is exceptionally faint and unstable.

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. For example, two people equipped with Red Tacton devices could exchange data just by shaking hands. A wide range of natural human actions grasping, sitting down, walking, or standing in a particular place can be used to trigger Red Tacton to start a networked process.

 

Fig. Intrabody Communication

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. Unlike wireless technologies, the transmission speed does not deteriorate even in the presence of large crowds of people all communicating at the same time in meeting rooms, auditoriums or stores. Because the body surface is the transmission path, increasing the number of connected users directly increases the available number of individual channels.

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. (Note that constraints are imposed by the length and environment of the propagating conductor, and by the thickness of the dielectric.)

                     FEATURES

 

APPLICATIONS

             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.

          2.INTUITIVE OPERATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Communication is triggered by totally natural human actions and behavior, so there is no need to insert smart cards, connect cables, tune frequencies, or inconveniences usually associated with today's electronic devices.

3.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.

 

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.  MARKETING APPLICATIONS

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.