NTT made a demo of their human body data transmission technology at CEATEC JAPAN 2004.

The technology detects weak electric fields in a human body by using an optical electric field sensor and provides the data communication speed of about 10Mbps which is much faster than 3.7Kbps, the speed Matsushita Electric Works’ technology enables. The system also uses the TCP/IP protocol, making a human body equivalent to 10Mbps ethernet.

However, unlike Matsushita’s technology that is ready for commercial use, NTT’s technology may need some work before it can be commercialized.

It works as follows: you step on a copper platform containing a server computer and hold a computing device, then data are sent from the server through your body to the computing device. For example, you can view streaming video transmitted through you body on your handheld device.

Via RFID in Japan < IT Media.
See also: Roland’s post on ElectAura-Net, a 10-Mbit/second Body Network and Paul’s Patenting The Body Electric.