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Handshake Communicates Digital Information

The exchange of digital information flowing through human touch.

Shake hands with someone and you can tell volumes about them -- or so it may seem. Hands warm or cold, callused or soft, the handshake strong and vigorous or not. But such old-fashioned analog flesh-pressing may soon be surpassed by the exchange of digital information flowing through human touch. According to Alps Electric, the human body's electrical field can be used to convey digital information during a handshake, or for a number of security purposes. The company -- presenting at CEATEC Japan 2009 -- thinks this technology can be used for personal ID in mobile phones, home security and in vehicles. View Video

Illustration by Tom McKeith

Wayne E. Hanson served as a writer and editor with e.Republic from 1989 to 2013, having worked for several business units including Government Technology magazine, the Center for Digital Government, Governing, and Digital Communities. Hanson was a juror from 1999 to 2004 with the Stockholm Challenge and Global Junior Challenge competitions in information technology and education.