RED TACTON

What is RedTacton?
• 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.
• Red Tacton uses the minute electric field emitted 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 Red Tacton transceiver.
• Physically separating ends the contact and thus ends
communication Using Red Tacton, communication starts when
terminals carried by the user or embedded in devices are linked
in various combinations according to the user's Communication
is possible using any body surfaces, such as the hands, fingers,
arms, feet, face, legs or torso.
• Red Tacton works natural, physical movements.
 HISTORY
• We may have imagined the feature as a place crawling with
antennas and emitters, due to the huge growth of wireless
communications.
• And it is seems that the current Means of transferring data
might already have a very serious competitor none other than
the human body.
• Thus NTT labs from Japan has announced that is currently
testing a revolutionary technology called “ red tacton ”,which
use the electric fields generated by the human body as Medium
for transmitting the data . The chips which will be embedded in
various devices contain a transmitter and receiver built to send
and accept data in digital format. The chips can take any type of
file such as mp3 music file or mail and convert it in to the format
that takes the form of digital pulse that can be passed and read
through a human being electric field .
WHY THE NAME REDTACTON?

The name we chose for this technology is derived from “touch-

act-on” meaning “action
triggered by touching” combined with red, which in Japanese
culture is an auspicious color with
connotations of warmth and love, to convey the cordiality and
warmth of interpersonal
communications.
"Red" for warmth,
"T" for touch, and
“Acton" for action
 How it works???
Point to Point
Network

Transceivers
exchange
information –
no server

Optical
properties of
electro-optic
crystal –
varies based
on electric Data received using photonic electric field sensor combined with
field electro-optic crystal and laser light
CONTD...
Using a new super-sensitive photonic electric field sensor, Red Tacton
can achieve duplex communication over the human body at a maximum
speed of 10 mbps The Red Tacton transmitter induces a weak electric
field on the surface of the body. The Red Tacton receiver senses changes
in the weak electric field on the surface of the body caused by the
transmitter .Red tacton relies upon the principle that the optical
properties of an electro-optic crystal can vary according to the changes
of a weak electric field. Red Tacton 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. The transmitter
sends data by inducing fluctuations in the minute electric field on the
surface of the human body. 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.
STRUCTURE OF REDTACTON:
 The RedTacton consists of both transmitter and receiver as
shown above

The transmitter consists of

• Data sense circuit which controls both transmitter circuit
and electro-optic crystal.
• Transmitter circuit to transmit data in the form electric
signals.
•The receiver consists of electro-optic crystal for detection
of weak signal.
•Detector circuit to retrieve the data
Human area network
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 Red
Tacton,
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 & 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 .Taking advantage of this
speed, device
drivers can be downloaded instantly and execute programs can be 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.
DI ELETRICS CONDUCTORS
(Signals pass through materials) (Signals travel along surface)

A communication environment can be created easily and at low-cost by

using items close at hand, such as desks, walls, and metal objects. But there is one limitation on
the length of the conductor to be propagated, on installation locations, and on the thickness of
the dielectric to be passed through.
 Prototype
NTT has made three types of prototypes

Communication method
:Half-duplex
Interface: PCMCIA

Red tacton transciever(hub type):

Communicationspeed:10Mbps
Protocols :TCP/IP
Communication method : Half-duplex
Interface: RJ45
Security devices whose development has been completed
Red tacton transciever(pc card type):

Communicationspeed:10Mbps
Protocols : TCP/IP
Communication method :Half-duplex
Interface: PCMCIA
Evaluation Wireless Close Contact Passive Standard Standard
criterio lan range less ic wireless data data
wireless cards ID tag communica communica
tion tion

Transfer speed E P P P P E
(Can DVDquality
images
be sent?)

Performance P P E E E E
deterioration
during periods
of congestion
(Simultaneous
use by many
people in small
spaces)

Duplex data E E E P E E
transfer
(Interactive
processing)
Evaluation criterion Wireless Close Contact Passive Standard Standard
lan range less ic wireless data data
wireless cards ID tag communica communica
tion tion
Data E E P P E E
configuration at
initiation of
communications
(Registration of
ID profiles, etc)
Tasks required E E P E P E
at time of
each
communication
(Adjustment of
contacts and
optical axis)
Synchronization P P E E P E
with
user behavior
(Specification
of
user
positioning)
COMPARISON WITH OTHER COMMUNICATION METHODS
"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
ADVANTAGE OVER BLUETOOTH
The system envisioned by NTT, utilizes a conversion method which takes digital data into a
stream of low-power digital pulses. These can be easily transmitted and read back through the
human electric field.
While it is true that similar personal area networks are already accessible by using radio-based
technologies like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, this new wireless technology claims to be able to send data
over the human skin surface at transfer speeds of up to 10Mbps, or better than a broadband T1
connection. Receiving data in such a system is more complicated because the strength of the
pulses sent through the electric field is so low.
Red Tacton solves this issue by utilizing a technique called electric field photonics: A laser is
passed though an electro-optic crystal, which deflects light differently according to the
strength of the field across it. These deflections are measured and converted back into
electrical signals to retrieve the transmitted data.
According to Tom Zimmerman, inventor of the IBM personal networking system, body-based
networking is more secure than broadcast systems, such as Bluetooth, which have a range of
about 10m.The issue is that with Bluetooth, it is difficult to rein in the signal and restrict it to the
device you are trying to connect to. But in a busy place there could be hundreds of Bluetooth
devices within range.
Moreover, body-based networking seems to allow for more natural interchanges of information
between humans, as only when you are in true proximity you can make this system work. There
are some specific applications that would appear as being ideal matches for Red Tacton-like
technologies.
Above Figure shows the comparison of RED TACTON device with other
networks with respect to distance.
COMPARISON WITH OTHER COMMUNICATION METHODS
 Competitive Viability
• Power of Buyers v. Power of Suppliers
– Power is with the device manufacturers
– What is a device?
• Cell phones, PDA’s
• Any device we wish to communicate with
– Buyers may demand monetary benefit to include new
technology
• New technology may require significant design changes
• R&D still needed
– Government, Military, or medical professionals
 Competition
• Bluetooth
• Zigbee
• IrDA
• UWB
• Skinplex
• Verichip
 Obstacles
• Time & cost
• Needs to gain popularity to pull instead of
push
• Widespread marking campaigns and
education
• Not useful unless many people adopt it
 Predictions
• Medical
– This area has the financial resources available for
Research and Development and it also has the
potential to be beneficial to a large percentage of
the population. 
 Predictions
• Military
– If the military adopts this technology is it likely the
public would never see it.

• Consumer Applications
– Necessary funding for continued R&D does not
make this a likely scenario in the next decade
 Advantages
• Data transfer is faster and easier through this
technology
• Data loss during transfer is less
• Use of minimum amount of power(of some
milli volt range)
• Security is more
 Security
• Requires physical contact
Must be wearing the transceiver and touching something else with a
transceiver

• Less potential for wireless interference and

between other RedTacton devices
• Allows for encryption and authentication
• Programmable
You decide what to share with whom and what devices you
communicate with
 Draw backs
• It has no compelling applications that aren’t
already available.
• Too costly.
• It can be useful within few centimetres
•Connect to the network just by putting hand to the table:
An electrically conductive sheet is embedded in the table. A
network connection is initiated simply by placing a lap-top on
the table. Using different sheet patterns enables segmentation
of the table into subnets.
•Wireless headset:
Red Tacton can carry music or video between headsets,
mobile devices, mobile phones, etc. Users can listen to music
from a Red Tacton player simply by putting on a headset or
holding a viewer.
•User verification and unlocking just by touch:
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.
A customer touching the advertising panel and getting information
about that advertisement through RED TACTON device
• Security applications Red Tacton 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.
System safety:
•No current flowing into the body from redtacton devices:
RedTacton uses the electric field that occurs naturally on the
surface of the
human body for communication. Transmitter and receiver
electrodes are covered with an
insulating films. No current flows into the body from the
RedTacton transceiver.
•Displacement current occuring in the body is small enough:
There is no current flowing from the RedTacton transceiver;
however, the
body indirectly receives a minute electric field. This causes
electrons already present
inside the body to move, creating a minute displacement current.
This displacement
current is similar to those occurring in everyday life.
 Applications

AN Alarm sounds automatically to avoid

accidental medicine ingestion

Touch advertising and receive information

Applications

JUST TOUCHING A PHONE

MAKES IT YOUR OWN

JUST SITTING IN THE SEAT TRIGGERS

THE CAR TO LOAD ALL ITS PRESETS,
JUST THE WAY YOU LIKE
Intuitive Operations

Touch printer to print

Instantaneous private network via

personal handshake
Security Applications

User verification and unlocking with

just a touch
 Conclusion
• We conclude that, when we compare Red Tacton with other
technology present today it can give a better performance
over others
• And we can say that to connect the network with in short
distances Red Tacton is best.
• In this technology there is no problem of hackers as our body
is itself a media.