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This summer Microsoft, the computer software giant, was awarded U.S. Patent 6,754,472, Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Power and Data Using the Human Body.1 The summary abstract for the patent is instructive: "Methods and apparatus for distributing power and data to devices coupled to the human body are described. The human body is used as a conductive medium, e.g., a bus, over which power and/or data is distributed. Power is distributed by coupling a power source to the human body via a first set of electrodes. One or more devise [sic] to be powered, e.g., peripheral devices, are also coupled to the human body via additional sets of electrodes. The devices may be, e.g., a speaker, display, watch, keyboard, etc. A pulsed DC signal or AC signal may be used as the power source. By using multiple power supply signals of differing frequencies, different devices can be selectively powered. Digital data and/or other information signals, e.g., audio signals, can be modulated on the power signal using frequency and/or amplitude modulation techniques."
All of that is to say that Microsoft has harnessed the legal right to use the conductive properties...