Products Have Feelings Too
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a flexible sensor "skin" which will allow robots to have a better sense of touch. But who cares about robots! These sensors will allow any relatively flat surface to get information about pressure on it. This is huge. Think of the possibilities for chairs that move to evenly distribute your weight, tables that know how many people are sitting at them, floors that help a room direct task lighting to where it's needed, even hospital beds that re-arrange patients to prevent bedsores. Start getting excited.
