Unlocking cars and activating devices securely could soon be a matter of simply touching them, thanks to a communications system that transmits data across the skin.German company Ident Technology has developed several prototypes of a system that transfers a tiny electric current across the skin. One system is incorporated into a pair of safety goggles and sends a signal to a corresponding electric drill. This means the drill only switches on if the operator is wearing the protective goggles."We are using the body as a signal transmitter,” says CEO Peter Rosenbeck. “You simply have a transmitter, a person and a receiver."Rosenbeck says the system operates at just 30 nanoamperes, making it entirely safe for people to use. The code transmitted by the electric signal allows cars to be unlocked, doors opened or other devices started.
