Nakama: A Companion for Non-verbal Affective Communication

Abstract

We present "Nakama": A communication device that supports affective communication between a child and its - geographically separated - parent. Nakama consists of a control unit at the parent's end and an actuated teddy bear for the child. The bear contains several communication channels, including social touch, temperature, and vibrotactile heartbeats; all aimed at increasing the sense of presence. The current version of Nakama is suitable for user evaluations in lab settings, with which we aim to gain a more thorough understanding of the opportunities and limitations of these less traditional communication channels.