The Inhuman Touch
Does Grandma Need a Hug? A Robotic Pillow Can Help
With e-mail, cellphones and other technology, it's easier than ever for grandparents to keep in touch with their far-flung children and grandchildren.
But nothing has been able to replicate the physical interaction that comes with an occasional visit.
Now, robotics researchers at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh have designed a soft, huggable pillow that uses sensing and wireless phone technology to provide a physical touch, and thus better social and emotional support, for distant family members.
Translation: Technology offers an escape from messy emotional attachments. Why deal with difficult relatives and unresolved childhood resentment when there are gadgets that offer a way out? With a new huggable robotic pillow for your aging parents, you can kick back and enjoy your 500 channels without worrying imagined obligations to your needy family.
