MIT's book with body sensors makes readers ‘feel’ the story

Soon, literary works may have what it takes to make the reader feel the story, literally.

 

Researchers at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have crafted a book with an accompanying suit made of networked sensors and actuators.

 

The book, "The Girl Who Was Plugged In" by James Tiptree, helps the reader's imagination by conveying plot, mood, and emotion with augmented reality, MIT said. 
 

A prototype involves the reader wearing a suit of sensors connected to the book, with the wearable tech allowing the reader to experience the character's physiological emotions.

 

"Changes in the protagonist’s emotional or physical state triggers discrete feedback in the wearable, whether by changing the heartbeat rate, creating constriction through air pressure bags, or causing localized temperature fluctuations," MIT said.

 

In the book, the main character experiences "both deep love and ultimate despair, the freedom of Barcelona sunshine and the captivity of a dark damp cellar," MIT said.

 

For this story, the book and wearable support:

 

- Light: the book cover has 150 programmable LEDs to create ambient light based on changing setting and mood.

 

- Sound: Personal heating device to change skin temperature through a Peltier junction secured at the collarbone.

 

- Vibration to influence heart rate: Compression system (to convey tightness or loosening through pressurized airbags). — KDM, GMA News