Towards Media Technology that Enhance Empathy by Shared-Experiences

Department of Content and Creative Design,Fuculty of Design, Kyushu University
Associate Professor Ryoko Ueoka

　Our research is on virtual reality and wearable computers, through which we aim to create new connections
between people and technology based on our observations of what characterizes the human body and mind. We are
especially involved in the field of emotional engineering, which adopts an engineering approach to the broad
range of human emotions, something that computers have not been handled until recently. We expect interpreting
emotions from an engineering standpoint may facilitate our understanding the feelings of others and help us
perceive ourselves more objectively. It is our aspiration to realize the kind of media technology that allows us
to share experiences with others.
　In concrete terms, we are making devices for quantitatively measuring what conscious and unconscious responses
people have to perceptional stimuli. On the basis of experimental insights, we prepare content for the creation
of experience systems. Fig. 1 shows Emotion Hacking VR, an emotion system that employs tactile stimuli to amplify
emotions of fear. Taking advantage of the link between emotions of fear and increased heart rate, this system
allows users to experience horror content by intentionally raising their heart rate through external tactile
stimuli.

　Other projects include the production of a tactile display for inducing attention or drowsiness (Fig. 2), a
display that uses tactile illusions to make hard outlines feel soft (Fig. 3 left), and the Laugh Log which is a
wearable computer worn around the waist that detects laughter (Fig. 3 right). Producing new human interface
devices allows us to explore the future of computers.

■Inquiries
Department of Content and Creative Design,Fuculty of Design, Kyushu University
Associate Professor Ryoko Ueoka