Imagine life without data cables. Music from your iPod passes through your body to headphones in your ears. Or transfer pictures from your digital camera just by touching the PC while the camera is around your neck.

Well, these are no more imaginations. NTT in Japan has developed a technology called RedTacton, which can send data over the surface of the human skin at speeds of up to 2Mbps - equivalent to a fast broadband data connection.

If two people each wear a 50g device the size of a matchbox, they could exchange business cards by shaking hands, transfer mp3 files by dancing cheek to cheek, or swap phone numbers just by kissing.

Because the transmission path is on the surface of the body, transmission speed does not deteriorate in congested areas where many people are communicating at the same time.

Source: RedTacton | NTT Press Release | Baku | Guardian