LONDON — Researchers at BTExact, the UK carrier's R&D business, have developed new technology that takes mobile messaging from the arena of two-dimensional photo messages and voice clips to another level where, according to the company, "actual emotions can be conveyed between family and friends in a physical and tactile way."
The technology allows interactive toys to be linked to mobile phones so that SMS communication can be displayed through the toys' actions. The aim was to make the texting experience become more personable and fun.
The group is collaborating with several major toy manufacturers to produce interactive SMS prototypes of some of their most popular toys.
Prototypes have been developed that create "a more natural and tangible mode of communicating for adults and children, which will encourage more imaginative text messaging". The interactive toys are tuned in to their owners' mobile phone so that, whenever an emotional graphic symbol (or emoticon) is sent, the toy displays the emotion that has been communicated.
The example given is of a happy symbol sent to a toy dog that would subsequently "come to life and start barking".Alternatively a love message could be sent to a teddy bear, which would trigger its heart to glow and become warm to the touch. The idea is that the recipient of the emoticon can sense the actual meaning of the message that has been sent from their friend or partner. It is hoped that this will make the messaging experience more fun and tangible.
BT Exact suggests such exploration into SMS and interactive toys can be applied to other areas such as clothing and jewelry. Emoticons could also be sent to wearable computers embedded in jewelry. These could then change the color of the jewelry to show the mood of the sender.
When messages are sent to people's phones and they are wearing emoticon-enabled clothing the recipients could actually receive a hug as the vest would warm and constrict, reproducing a real hug.
For the more serious minded, the researchers say the technology could also create a new breed of executive toys that give out physical reminders.
Rebecca Capper, new concepts designer in BT Exact's emerging technologies lab, said: "Interactive messaging and SMS toys can not only give people a real sense and feel of how their friends and relatives are feeling but will also demonstrate how they are feeling about you. The first range of SMS toys won't just be about fun but will bring emotional messaging to the fore and ultimately it will become a more multi-sensory way of staying in touch."
"It takes SMS messaging into a new and exciting realm," Capper adds.
