NTT to debut system that unlocks doors with a touch

Japanese telecom giant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT) is getting ready to launch a system called RedTacton that will eliminate the need for keys and ID cards and let people open doors by touch.

Data traveling through the user’s clothing, handbag, or shoes from a small card in their pocket will let her open a door by touching the knob or standing on a particular spot. The system uses the surface of the human body as a means of transmission.

An NTT engineer says that future applications could include a walk-through ticket gate, a cabinet that only opens to authorized people, and even a TV remote that automatically knows a user’s favorite channels and shows.

Car alarm systems could also get more secure using RedTacton. Instead of unlocking when you are near the car as they do now, they will only unlock when you touch the door.

This technology seems to be a glimpse into the future. At first it will be limited in use and fairly expensive, but as it becomes more widespread we could see the extinction of the key and ID card as we know them today. Imagine walking up to your house, reaching for a doorknob which automatically unlocks the door, and walking right in. No more fumbling around for keys. That’s a future we’d like to live in.