Scientists Plan to Shake Hands Via Internet

reuters.com ^ | October 28, 2002 06:04 PM ET | Reuters

[Nachum]

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists in Britain and the United States will try to shake hands on Tuesday.

No big deal one might think -- only they will be 5,000 km (3,000 miles) apart, using the Internet to connect them.

In a technological first, they will use pencil-like devices called phantoms to recreate the sense of touch across the Atlantic, organizers of the experiment said.

The phantoms send small impulses at very high frequencies down the Internet using newly developed fiber optic cables and extremely high bandwidths.

When a scientist in London prods a screen with the phantom, the sensation should be felt by a colleague in Boston, and vice versa.

"Pushing on the pen sends data representing forces through the Internet that can be interpreted by a phantom and therefore felt on the other end," said Mel Slater, Professor of Computer Science at University College London (UCL).

"You can not only feel the resulting force, but you can also get a sense of the quality of the object you're feeling -- whether it's soft or hard, wood-like or fleshy."

UCL will conduct the experiment on Tuesday with colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Two scientists -- one in London and one in Boston -- will try to pick up a cube between them and move it, each responding to the force the other exerts on it.

The secret behind the technology is the speed at which the successive impulses are sent -- up to 1,000 Hertz," UCL said in a statement.

"In much the same way that the brain re-interprets still images into moving pictures, the frequencies received by the phantom are similarly integrated to produce the sense of a continuous sensation," it said.

The implications of the experiment could be vast, said UCL, which describes the event as the world's "first transatlantic handshake over the Internet."

If successful, it could allow people to touch and feel each other over the Internet.

[Nachum]

Reach out and touch someone?

[palmer]

We'll need to get the guy's credit card so we can charge him $10 / minute.

[strela]

I've always wanted to design a computer monitor that has a big hand that will stick out and slap trolls and spammers across the face when they send their nefarious troll posts/spam. Guess I should have copyrighted that idea ;)

[billorites]

"If successful, it could allow people to touch and feel each other over the Internet. "

I think we can see where this is going.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Yes, but how can market this with porn?

[ThadPiet]

This will add a whole new dimension to the obscene phone call.

[steveo]

GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY!

[Republican Wildcat]

oh boy...

[Alex Murphy]

I think we can see where this is going.

Oh, absolutely. I have little doubt one of the scientists will "accidentally" leave his device in his pants pocket.

[PJ-Comix]

I wanna touch Petra Verkaik but it isn't her hand I wanna grab.

[mhking]

Am I the only one to figure that porn spam would take on a new dimension with this? [cringe]

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!
This has come about after much badgering by you, my friends and extended family...

[glock rocks]

If successful, it could allow people to touch and feel each other over the Internet.

can ya feel the love ?

[Tennessee_Bob]

Ok - something is wrong - a post like this and you're nowhere around??

Ok, tell the truth - how much have you got invested in this??

[TightSqueeze]

You can not only feel the resulting force, but you can also get a sense of the quality of the object you're feeling -- whether it's soft or hard, wood-like or fleshy

Screw these handjob thingys, bring on the holodeck.

[DakotaGator]

Step 1 - FeelyNet.

Step 2 - Orgasmitron.

What a strange world this has become!

[JoeSixPack1]

Speaking of Petra Verkaik,,,,,,,

you are not alone PJ!

[PJ-Comix]

Step 2 - Orgasmitron.

What a strange world this has become!

Actually we've already seen Step 2 in a movie---Sleeper. Remember?

[PJ-Comix]

Speaking of Petra Verkaik,,,,,,,

Trust me. You wouldn't want to use this gizmo just to shake Petra's hand.

[M. Peach]

I can just hear it now - "Thank you for letting me come into your computer."