But an acquaintence of mine wanted to start a business selling ... other personal devices you wouldn't expect to be modem equipped. A similar application, sort of... well, no. But ... never mind.
I have to say, when I read this article I was pretty creeped out by it. Hugs definitely fall under the category of "things I want people to do, not machines".
I admit, I'd find it more creepy if it were a robot programmed to hug on command, rather than a device to relay instructions from a person.
I guess it still is sort of creepy. Sort of like trying to make the physical presence of humans obsolete, the way the characters from Solaris in The Naked Sun did. But it also seems kind of endearing: like the way a phone call can be better than a letter. If I had a choice between being able to see my long-distance friends when I called them, and being able to feel them, I'd take the latter. This isn't the touch equivalent of a videophone ... but there's still something kinda neat about it.
But, if it were more like a full immersion VR type setup, I don't think anyone would really blink at the idea. So why freak out at a somewhat clumsy version.
Still, phone conversations are nice because you can hear the tone of voice on the other end. That's a lot more reassuring and friendly than a letter. :)
I should scan and mail you the story about the hug machine from Oliver Sacks's An Anthropologist On Mars. (Or it's probably at your local library. GREAT book, all his case history books are great.) Have you ever heard of a woman by the name of Dr. Temple Grandin? Even beyond the hug machine, she's bloody fascinating...
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But an acquaintence of mine wanted to start a business selling ... other personal devices you wouldn't expect to be modem equipped. A similar application, sort of... well, no. But ... never mind.
This one isn't so weird after all. ];-)
===|==============/ Level Head
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I guess it still is sort of creepy. Sort of like trying to make the physical presence of humans obsolete, the way the characters from Solaris in The Naked Sun did. But it also seems kind of endearing: like the way a phone call can be better than a letter. If I had a choice between being able to see my long-distance friends when I called them, and being able to feel them, I'd take the latter. This isn't the touch equivalent of a videophone ... but there's still something kinda neat about it.
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Not sure or not weither I'd want one.
But, if it were more like a full immersion VR type setup, I don't think anyone would really blink at the idea. So why freak out at a somewhat clumsy version.
Still, phone conversations are nice because you can hear the tone of voice on the other end. That's a lot more reassuring and friendly than a letter. :)
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Me too.
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