Microsoft to patent technology that turns human bodies into data transmitters

Picture this: You’re out shopping and end up buying a ton of new stuff. At the billing counter, you end up paying for the wares by simply using your own

Nishtha Kanal|Jun 14, 2013, 14:09:54 IST

Picture this: You’re out shopping and end up buying a ton of new stuff. At the billing counter, you end up paying for the wares by simply using your own skin. No credit cards, no hard cash exchanged and no ID needed.

Sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? You could well be able to use this technology in the near future as Endgadget has revealed that Microsoft has already applied for a patent for an electronic device that can contain and pass information with merely a touch.

Touch and go

The US Patent and Trademark Office application filled out by Microsoft refers to this piece of technology as a Biological Entity Communication Channel. The apparatus will include a signal conductor that will use biological touch as a transmission channel.

Essentially, you will be able to use your touch, wearing this device on your wrist to transmit information. Assuming that the person you’re meeting will be wearing a similar device, you will be able to share contact information with the person you’re in a business meeting with simply by shaking his or her hand.

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This futuristic method of collecting and dispensing information comes a fortnight after Motorola Mobility’s Regina Dugan displayed wearable electronic tattoo that can replace passwords at All Things Digital’s D11 conference. The skin patch will let you forget all about maintaining passwords, with it being an authenticating option.

Dugan also spoke about Vitamin authentication. Motorola is working on a pill that when swallowed, turns your entire body into a password by creating 18-bit signals.

These pills, patches and wrist devices won’t necessarily be coming too soon, but sometime in the future. Wearables are the newest “it” devices in the tech world these days and Microsoft will want to be in the forefront of this revolution. For now, the Redmond-based company has merely filed for a patent. And with it begins the long wait for a wrist band that can turn your skin into a transmitter.

By Nishtha Kanal

Intrigued by all things social, Nishtha will invariably tweet about you. When not tweeting or writing about the next viral video, you will hear her proclaiming her love to Metallica, James Hetfield, Opeth, Akerfeldt and all bands that go 'growl'. She also obsesses about ACP Pradyuman and South Park and you will always find her moving around with a book. Her focus is on all the happening stuff in the tech domain, and she won't hesitate to take a shot at some of the oddball devices that make their way to our labs.