14 DAY TRIAL // In a recent report, a team of scientists working with the University of Sussex in the UK describe an innovative system that they say basically transfers human emotions through the air.
The system, pictured next to this article, works by blowing air at people's hand. Depending on the intensity of the air currents and the bodily region they target, people can be made to feel a wide range of emotions.
The University of Sussex team, led by scientist Marianna Obrist, expect their high-tech system for conveying emotions will one day serve to facilitate communication between individuals.
Stimulating parts of the hand triggers emotions
Specialist Marianna Obrist and colleagues explain that, according to their investigations into the matter at hand, having people experience sharp bursts of air to their middle palm and to the area around their thumb and index finger triggers positive emotions such as excitement.
Using slow and moderate air currents to stimulate the outer palm and the area around the so-called pinky finger translates into negative feelings such as sadness, the University of Sussex team of researchers go on to detail.
The system developed by these scientists, called Ultrahaptics, is designed in such a way that it can generate both sharp and slow flows of air, and direct the resulting currents at specific areas of a person's hand. In doing so, the system causes the individual to experience various emotions.
Potential uses for this emerging technology
As mentioned, scientist Marianna Obrist and fellow researchers expect that the technology and the working principles behind their Ultrahaptics system can improve communication between individuals, especially in the case of long-distance relationships.
“It also has huge potential for 'one-to-many' communication - for example, dancers at a club could raise their hands to receive haptic stimulation that enhances feelings of excitement and stability,” specialist Marianna Obrist emphasized in an interview.
Interestingly, the researchers say the same technology could make for more entertaining video games and movie watching experiences by adding to the visual and audio stimuli people receive.
