A Fantasy coming true? is how you can perhaps describe the
latest invention by two Japanese firms where high bandwidth data transfer can
be effected when two humans shake their hands.
The technology, developed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
Corp. and its subsidiary NTT DoCoMo Inc., uses the body's conductivity for
data transmission at 10 megabits per second, comparable to the speed of a
broadband Internet connection.
According to the inventors, a device attached to a PDA can
send and receive weak electrical signals through people, with human bodies as
communications circuits. Apparel and handbags have their own conductivity,
allowing an electrical connection to a PDA that can remain in one's pocket
according to them.
In this way, people can exchange e-mail addresses, names and
phone numbers while shaking hands, with the data automatically written into both
their PDAs. The technology can also allow data communications through door
knobs, switches, desks and chairs.
No doubt this is an exciting development which must have a
high potential in many fields not the least the medical field where embedded
devices in a human body need to be communicated with.
A thought however crosses one's mind that if the technology
is as good as it is claimed to be, its early application could be by
terrorists to pass on vital information to their contacts under the watchful
eyes of the security personnel. While security agencies keep tapping the
telephones and internet signals to look for communication leaks, the innocuous
looking handshake can do all that the terrorist wants to transfer information
from one member to another. Similarly, it may be used for transfer of
information by betting agencies with players during a cricket match or for drug
traffickers and other anti social elements.
Perhaps the Law Enforcement Agencies need to study the
possible ways by which the technology can be applied by criminals and train
their security personnel to spot any unusual handshakes.
