Researchers at the Kajimoto Lab at the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo have invented something totally useful and not at all creepy: a “tactile communication” device intended to transmit the feeling of a kiss from one machine to another. The data can also be recorded and replayed later. One of the researchers, Nobuhiro Takahashi, points out a creepy application for that: “If you have a popular entertainer use this device and record it, that could be hugely popular if you offer it to fans.” I hear that would be especially popular among fans who have a temporary protection order imposed against them, as the box is technically 100 or more feet away. So how does this creepy thing work anyway?
The Kiss Transmission device is a pair of boxes with plastic tubes sticking out the front that are powered by motors that are controlled by a computer. The guy on one end puts the straw in the mouth and flicks it around with the tongue and the person on the other end has the straw on their machine move in the exact same way. It’s supposed to simulate the feeling of kissing, with lots of tongue. [Technabob]
In other words, none of them have ever made out with anybody, ever [allegedly, I just alleged it]. But here’s a video of an abashedly unashamed guy making out with a machine and/or performing fellatio on a robot depending on how you want to look at it. I’m embarrassed for us all.
*rips and saves copy of video in folder titled “Thanksgiving 2004″*
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/PspagsTFvlg?fs=1&hl=en_US