1. Remote Tactile Communicator A tool for physical expression over distance

2. Years ago, I was involved in a long distance relationship and wanted to figure out a way to send a remote kiss. I wondered about the idea of remote tactile communication but could not find any information on it. I came up with an idea of using a pin art toy that was interactive. I imagined a connection where two pin art devices were able to send and receive information to move the position of the pins to correspond with the senders and receivers input. For example, I would press my face against the pin art device and the receiver would see this on his device:

3. My partner would then be able to press his lips against this image, and I would see his pin impression. If we both pressed together, the location of the pins would be interactive based on both impressions. Essentially we could kiss a remote representation of each other’s lips. Of course, for comfort purposes, the pins could could be covered with a stretchy skin like material that would be sanitary and easily washable.

4. Statistically, the success rate for long distance relationships is not very good, and mine was no exception. My interest in the subject also waned as I became more involved in my career as an artist. Recently, I was remembering the days when my dad would kiss my forehead upon returning from one of his regular sales trips. These trips kept him from his family during the week for most of the time while I was growing up. I looked forward to this ritual as it showed how much he missed and loved all of us. He still does this and it never fails to warm my heart. My parents live across the continent now, and although I am a grown adult with my own life, I still feel the need for a kiss on the forehead. I see my dad only once or twice a year, but would love to be able to interact more often. Now that dad is nearer to the end of is life, I thought about the invention of an interactive remote tactile communications device again. This time I did some internet research and was surprised to find that there has been a lot of progress in the technology that could make this idea possible. The first thing I came across was a device in which rolling cylinders were controlled remotely by people in two different locations. The device was called InTouch and was created in 1998 by Tangible Media. http://tangible.media.mit.edu/project/intouch/ This led me to investigate other related devices developed by Tangible Media, which is part of MIT Media Lab and headed by Professor Hiroshi Ishii. It is here that I saw their work on Physical Telepresence http://tangible.media.mit.edu/project/physical-telepresence/

5. “InTouch is a project to explore new forms of interpersonal communication through touch. Force- feedback technology is employed to create the illusion that people, separated by distance, are interacting with a shared physical object. The “shared” object provides a haptic link between geographically distributed users, opening up a channel for physical expression over distance.” Scott Brave, Andrew Dahley, and Professor Hiroshi Ishii./1998

6. The InTouch device was basically very close to what I wanted to do, however on a more intricate level. Physical Telepresence was even closer to the interactive pin device - I simply envisioned it on a vertical axis. Specifically, the bidirectional deformation connected membrane pin screen mode and tensioned cloth mode appear to already use the technology necessary to create the interactive pin device. Daniel Leithinger, Sean Follmer, Alex Olwal, Hiroshi Ishii / 2014

7. If this technology were to be applied to a vertically oriented model, I could press my forehead into the screen and my dad would be able to see the impression on his paired device. He could press his lips to my forehead, and I would be able to feel a simulation of his comforting kiss. I imagine that many others would enjoy this kind of experience as much, or even more. Perhaps this could be recorded, so I can still receive kisses after he passes.

8. There are many possibilities for the future of tactile communication. Starting small with a hand sized device is only the beginning. The same technology can be applied to a larger device such as this one designed by Lou Lou Guiness. This is more along the lines of a “full contact” experience.

9. This possibility of remote physical contact opens many doors of opportunity. I envision private communication booths where loved ones can feel their partner’s touch. It would be such an ideal thing for our service men stationed overseas. An expectant father would be able to see and feel the mother’s belly grow as his child develops in the womb. Although hugging would not be possible at this point, caressing could be. Opportunities in the adult entertainment industry also come to mind. That would be an entirely different venue, but could easily be utilized for generating income to fund future research. On the next level of development, I imagine that there could be an enclosure in which one is placed and a 3D tangible image can be generated. Remote hugging could eventually be realized. Perhaps this is already possible due to the current breakthroughs with Radical Atoms research. I continue to find new projects that are pertinent to the development and utilization of this product every time I go down the rabbit hole on the internet. There are so many possibilities for the interactive pin device idea. I would like to be a part of making it happen. My skills are mostly art related, as I am currently a set painter for a stop motion entertainment tv show. However, I am happy to help promote this idea and to raise funds for the research and prototype construction should that be necessary. I have some experience in grant writing and fund raising and am eager to find out how much money will be needed to begin this process. My main wish is to provide a haptic link for physical expression over a distance, particularly a kiss. I understand that I have not asked for any kind of confidentiality agreement. I trust that you are ethical. I am simply sharing my dream, in hopes that someone with the technological ability can make it become a reality, and I can still be involved with it to some degree. Sincerely, Kathryn Evans Kathrynevans@sbcglboal.net c: 323-253-8927