LumiTouch: an emotional communication device

We present the Lumitouch system consisting of a pair of interactive picture frames. When one user touches her picture frame, the other picture frame lights up. This touch is translated to light over an Internet connection. We introduce a semi-ambient display that can transition seamlessly from periphery to foreground in addition to communicating emotional content. In addition to enhancing the communication between loved ones, people can use LumiTouch to develop a personal emotional language.Based upon prior work on telepresence and tangible interfaces, LumiTouch explores emotional communication in tangible form. This paper describes the components, interactions, implementation and design approach of the LumiTouch system.