2020 update: another report of a virtual-touch haptic device that could someday enhance ASMR videos (Summary; Research Article).
Initial 2017 post: Video ASMR artists can directly stimulate ASMR in viewers with gentle sounds, soft voices, and comforting visuals.
But they have been unable to directly stimulate the sensation of touch through a video. And touch may be the strongest trigger of ASMR.
Could there be a way to feel the touch of someone who is in another room or even in another country?
Yes.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University in Canada have designed gloves called Flex-N-Feel to be worn by individuals at separate locations. When one person Flexes their fingers in the gloves, the other person Feels the touch via vibrotactile sensations on their skin.
Alexa is a virtual assistant created by Amazon which runs on the Amazon Echo devices.
The Royal Geographical Society will be holding their Annual International Conference in London, from August 29 to September 1, 2017.
Libby Copeland lives in Westchester, NY, USA and has a BA degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA.
Jonathan Fitas is a professional composer and sound designer, and a recent graduate from the University of Marne-La-Vallée & National Institute of Audiovisual in Paris, France.
Do you live in the UK?
Matthew Wilson lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland and has his BSc Honors in Management and Leadership from Ulster University, Northern Ireland.
A short article about ASMR was posted this week on a website run by the National Sleep Foundation (a non-profit organization located in Washington, DC, USA).
ASMR University 