Every so often, NTT comes up with a bizarre new communication standard that likely won't materialize for another 10 years. Lo and behold, this happened today.

It's called "RedTacton," and NTT has defined it as a "Human Area Network."

The concept is simple: touch a RedTacton supporting device with o­ne part of your body, and touch another RedTacton supporting device with another part of your body, and bam -- instant 10Mbps connection between the two devices. There's a bit more to it, such as how signals can travel through other mediums (including water and metal, I guess because they conduct electricity pretty well).

NTT obviously has a number of planned applications for the technology, including replacing WiFi (in certain situations), RFID, Bluetooth, and Infrared (all what they call "last meter" technologies). Frankly, if NTT can manage to make RedTacton materialize they way they describe, I think they've got a good chance of doing just that.

Anyway, now for a couple links. You'll be pleased to know that the Official RedTacton page is already available in English; it contains pretty much all the information that has been made available to the public. Certainly, take a look at it. And this is NTT's official English press release regarding the technology. Finally, here's Keitai Watch's report o­n the demonstration that was held o­n the 18th....which we won't be translating unless a member specifically asks for it.