Posted by ketyung
on Apr/24/2008
at 3:34 am
The Japanese NTT has released a device called Firmo, which allows human to communicate with or to send data to an electronic device by touch only.
The Firmo will have a card-sized transmitter that is to be carried by a user in the pocket. And the transmitter will make use of the human body to transmit its signal to a receiver that is embedded in an electronic device.
The transmitter simply converts stored data into weak AC electric field which extends across human body. So, when the user with the transmitter touches a gadget with the receiver embedded, the electric field will then be converted back to data that can be interpreted by the gadget.
The current version of Firmo allows you to transmit data at a rate of 230kbps. Besides, NTT is also working on a low-cost version that allows to transmit audio/video data at a speed of 10Mbps.
The Firmo is designed based on NTT’s human area network (HAN) technology, which allows convenient data exchange between human and machine through physical contact, even through clothing, gloves and shoes.
The initial intention of NTT to make the human area network was hoping that organization would adopt this technology for higher convenience and security in offices. Such as employees needn’t carry any access cards or keys, which they can just touch the door handle with the receiver embedded to get the door opened or closed.
The Firmo set now carries a whopping price tag of $8,000, which the set consists of 5 card-sized transmitters and a receiver. The price is expected to go down once NTT starts their mass production.
Not too sure if making use of the human body as the transmission medium of AC field, has any negative health implication? The paranoids would refuse to carry this device with them.
via [pinktentacle]
NTT Firmo,human area network,Firmo
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