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Soon, Internet users to 'feel' physical contact while chatting Computer Main page| Free weekly downloads| Twitter | Printer drivers| Antivirus | Children safety | SMS| Articles London, (ANI): Internet chatting could soon turn more humane as users will be able to reach out and hug one another- thanks to a new wearable robotic device that creates the sensation of physical contact. The iFeel-IM device is capable of distinguishing nine emotions including joy, fear, interest, guilt and anger Created by Japan-based scientists, the device simulates sensations such as heartbeats, hugging, stomach butterflies and spine tingles among those wearing it. Dzmitry Tsetserukou, an assistant professor at Toyohashi University of Technology in Japan, described how his iFeel-IM robotic device was designed to add a human touch to the ethereal world of cyberspace. "We are steeped in computer-mediated communication - SMS, e-mail, Twitter, Instant Messaging, 3-D virtual worlds - but many people don't connect emotionally," the Telegraph quoted him as saying. "I am looking to create a deep immersive experience, not just a vibration in your shirt triggered by an SMS. Emotion is what give communication life," he added. Designed after five years of research, the new device - whose name stands for I Feel Therefore I Am - consists of a complex collection of sensors, motors, vibrators and speakers woven into a series of straps. Alena Neviarouskaya created the software that can decode emotional messages embedded in written text, triggering the appropriate touch response within the robot. The device can distinguish nine emotions including joy, fear, interest, guilt and anger with 90 per accuracy resulting in corresponding physical sensations such as squeezes and increased warmth in the user. While the scientists wanted to add a mechanism for sexual desire, they opted against it to avoid distracting from its emotion-based focus. The creation was among a string of futuristic interactive devices showcased at the first two-day Augmented Human International Conference held in the French ski resort Megeve. Reminiscing the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar, the new robot was tested during the conference on the three-dimensional environment Second Life, where on-line personas gave and received hugs physically felt by their human controllers. (ANI
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