We have seen bone conduction earphones which transmit sound waves directly to the inner ear through the bones of the skull. If you thought that was cool then how about a device that can transmit data through the skin. I am not talking about some concept device but an actual product which is available for purchase. Japanese Telecom giant NTT is selling the 'Firmo' a device that transmits data across the surface of the human body and lets users communicate with electronic devices simply by touching them. The device consists of a card sized transmitter which generates a weak AC electrical field that extends through out the body. When the user touches an object or device embedded with a compatible receiver the electrical signal is converted back to data and read by the device.

Currently Firmo transmits data at 230 kbps, but NTT is working on a low cost version that transmits data at 10 mbps. Firmo is based on NTT’s RedTacton human area network (HAN) technology, which is designed to allow convenient human-machine data exchange through natural physical contact — even through clothing, gloves and shoes. A set of 5 transmitters and one receiver costs a whopping 800,000 Yen ($ 8000).

So how will this work in the future. You walk up to a movie store, choose the movie, make the payment, touch the receiver which downloads the movie through your skin, go home, touch the media player and Voila.

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