During research on transmitting tactile sensations over the Internet, scientists from Singapore successfully developed a special jacket that makes a test chicken feel as if it is being cuddled.
This jacket is called the Impulse Jacket and is currently being researched further to upgrade it into an electronic “pajama” for children, allowing them to feel embraced “through the network.”
According to researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, this wireless jacket is controlled by a computer and provides pets with the sensation of being petted by their owners.
The Straits Times of Singapore reports that the next step in this research is to apply this concept to transmit hugs over the Internet.
“Nowadays, parents often have to travel far for work and do not spend much time with their children. However, everyone understands that for children, the feeling of being cherished, caressed, and hugged plays a very important role in their psychological and emotional lives,” said Associate Professor Adrian David from NTU.
NTU is considering creating a tactile pajama set for children that uses the Internet to simulate temperature changes and pressure on the child’s body, mimicking the feeling of being in their parents’ arms. Similarly, a pajama set for parents would allow them to feel as if they are being tightly hugged by their beloved child.
Thien Yi
