Even though
technology does sometimes separate us, it is also bridging distances
we never could traverse before. Sometimes I video-chat with my
parents, who live on the other side of the U.S. In other instances, I
conduct business through online-conference video-chats. When my
family was across the ocean for a European vacation, we were able to
text, send photos and videos, and even talk over the internet for
free using our smartphones. It is no wonder that some companies are
developing new ways to connect people and make their long-distance
experience feel more personal. One group has developed a robotic hand
made of silicon and sponge, which can be heated to body temperature
and is embedded with pressure sensors. This hand can remotely
transmit someone's handshake to make that video conference feel even
more personal and to keep that “human element” there. Another
robotic device called the Kissenger is able to convey the kiss of a
long-distance lover through Skype and other internet chat programs.
If you're not creeped out by this yet, you're not really thinking
about the implications of this kind of “technology.”
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