Japanese scientists from Osaka University have created a balloon input device. The system recognizes when the user strokes or squeezes the balloon. The balloon input device can tell the difference between a gentle rub or a hard poke. The creator of the device believes it could be used as a communication device between two people over the Internet who want to show their affection for each other.
The creator of the balloon input says, "When communicating with someone at a distance, the user could express affection to the other person by stroking the balloon, or get their attention by poking it.”
