I can’t think of too many use cases for this, but they did it: A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo (Japan’s MIT if you will) has developed a technology that makes it possible to “physically” convey emotions from cell phone to cell phone. The key elements of the technology are a sensor and a Peltier device that’s attached to the back of the phones.
When you start sweating and become emotionally agitated during a phone call, a sensor built into your cell phone detects changes in the electrical resistance of the skin of your hand (which holds the handset). This data is sent to the handset of the person you are currently talking with, along with the usual phone signal. Then, a Peltier device attached to the back of the handset of that person starts heating up, making him or her really understand you are angry, excited or surprised.
The researchers say there’s a time lag of just two seconds to convey the change in emotion. The Peltier device is able to heat up to 9C above room temperature, but it can also cool down to 3.6C below room temperature. In that case, you know the person you are talking with is either emotionally neutral or getting calmer again.
My apologies for the silly picture – there were no official pictures available.
Via The Nikkei [registration required, paid subscription]
Very silly picture indeed.
This would make it rough for a phone sex operator lol
The Padrino
http://www.thepadrino.com
Don’t apologize for the picture, it was what caught my attention long enough to read the article…Way to go.
@ Clint, phone sex? my phone has a vibrator, maybe the operator will have hers on too.
swift
http://www.swift-move.com
I thought this already happened, its called CDMA technology…
Have a long enough conversation where you are bitching back and forth for anything more then a few minutes at a time, and the phone heats up and pretty much burns the side of your face.
Thats awesome!
I am totally mad right now!
lol
hahaha, that’s awesome. but what happens if they’re exercising or something? i’m not sure if exercising would release the same electrical signals as getting agitated or angry, but uh… i don’t know, i just don’t see the practicality of this technology in a cell phone yet…
Communication is all about emotion. As phones still lack the visible feedback (to tell if someone is angry, happy etc.) this could definitely help.
Especially for guys that have a hard time to figure out if their girl is angry or not (as they usually don’t tell – haha)
Honestly, I hope there won’t be video phone calls anytime soon as I mostly don’t want people to see where I am or what I am doing ;-)
Ben ( http://www.bhuio.com )