Scientists develop the 'cyberhug'

Almaty. February 4. Kazakhstan Today - Scientists have become closer to making a hug across cyberspace a reality, the agency reports.

Scientists claim the average hug lasts for three seconds, but it has long been claimed that computers could allow us to do so remotely using electrical sensors, The Telegraph reported.

Sensory equipment enabling people to share a hug across cyberspace has been in development for several years, and experts insist it will one day become part of everyday life.

Adrian Cheok, associate professor at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University developed one such system, based on the award-winning Hug-Shirt, that allows parents and children to share "cyberhugs" while miles apart.

Teddy bears were fitted with sensors that detected when they were hugged by the parent, and the sensation was transmitted to the child via a special jacket fitted with heated copper wires.

Speaking at the time, he told CNN: "For a while technology has been driving people apart, locking them in front of computer screens, now we hope to use it to bring them together."

His product did not achieve global success but last year scientists based in Japan built a similar product - a wearable robot dubbed "iFeel_IM!" ("I feel therefore I am").

The prototype, which looked like a network of connected straps similar to a harness, was designed to add a human-like level of sensation to online conversations.

It was unveiled last April by its inventor, Dzmitry Tsetserukou, an assistant professor at Toyohashi University of Technology, and his wife and colleague Alena Neviarouskaya, a researcher at the University of Tokyo.

When connected to a computer, the machine used a series of sensors and motors to mimic a hug along with other sensations such as several types of heart beat, the sensation of having butterflies in one's stomach and a tingling feeling down the spine.

Using special software it identified emotions expressed within messages and responded by providing the appropriate physical sensation.

He predicted the system - which was 90 per cent accurate at detecting joy, fear, anger and sadness and only slightly weaker on nine further emotions - could soon become commonplace.

"In a few years, this could be a mobile system integrated into a suit or jacket. It's not that far away."

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