Robotics researchers at Carnegie Mellon have designed a pillow that can be used to simulate the presence of a loved one. The pillow, called the Hug, uses sensing and wireless technology to conduct a phone call and replicate physical contact.

Jodi Forlizzi, design professor at the Human Computer Interaction Institute, described the Hug and her department's goals for it:

"We did a three year ethnographic study in Pittsburgh and Chicago to make products for the elderly. We have five study areas: social and emotional, health and wellness, leaving a legacy, chair-side and bedside, and environmental control. The Hug is what we came up with for the social and emotional area."

The Hug is about the size of a throw pillow. It has a torso, a small head and two small arms that reach out to give a hug. In addition to its physical element, the hug also provides a direct phone link with relatives, reinforcing the feeling that the loved one is close by.

To activate the Hug, a person squeezes its left arm and says the name of the person he or she wishes to call. The voice recognition device matches the name with a phone number and connects to a corresponding Hug that — instead of ringing — lights up and makes sounds. To receive the hug, the loved one on the other end squeezes the left hand and says hello to activate the phone link.

Thermal fibers and small motors allow the Hug to convert motions from person to another. The thermal fibers heat up as the phone conversation continues. It can record up to four messages and stores them as voice and vibrations.

Forlizzi says The Hug was a collaborative effort:

"We had a doctoral student, a staff researcher who specializes in product development, two undergraduates, myself, and a hired sound designer."

The team is currently looking into developing a "Sense Chair" that will gauge the amount of time someone spends sitting down, and encourage the elderly to remain active. The prototype will be ready in December.

"Our overall goal is to help the older population by looking at their needs first," Forlizzi says.