Intentiō: power distribution through a potentialized human body

Abstract

We present Intentiō, which allows a potentialized human body to activate low-power electronic devices by touching them. A potentialized human body, i.e., one carrying our device, acts as a common power source and distributes power to electronic devices through their body. An electronic device generally requires its own power source that needs to be managed individually. The diversity of battery sources, which must also be frequently charged or exchanged, has introduced complications for users who manage them. Providing a common power source may help users more easily manage electric devices because the devices are passive, with no power source of their own. This paper presents Intentiō's design and implementation, followed by several proof-of-concept applications based on a potentialized human body. We also discuss the safety concerns of our method. Intentiō is a concept and framework for augmenting humans so that they may interact with and handle electronic devices with power distribution, where the electric devices can passively exist without complex wiring or power sources.