Wednesday, March 4, 2009

NTT Develops Human Area Networking Technology

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) has developed a Human Area Networking technology called RedTacton that uses the surface of the human body as a safe, high-speed network transmission path. RedTacton uses a transmission path established between the body of a person carrying a RedTacton card key and a RedTacton transceiver installed in, for example, a doorknob or floor. The person is automatically identified when they touch the doorknob or walk on the floor, and the transmission path is disconnected when the body and transceiver physically separate.


RedTacton enables a defined spot to serve as the point of identification, whereas wireless and infrared communication require wider areas. Identification points can be installed along the main areas of movement within a building, thereby enabling repeated identification of people as they enter a secure area, move about it and then exit. RedTacton is also highly scalable for systems incorporating flapper gates, finger-vein authentication devices, immersion-detection sensors or safety equipment.


Based on this technology, NTT Communications and Hitachi have developed a human-identification system that could be used for security applications. NTT Com designed and constructed the system and manufactured the RedTacton card key and reader. Hitachi designed the access management system and manufactured related management and control devices. MIWA LOCK designed and manufactured the RedTacton-equipped doorknob.


NTT Com will now begin promoting the new system for use by research facilities, data centers and factories that require high security or cleanliness.
http://www.ntt.co.jp