Sometimes you might be away from a loved one and you really need a hug from that person – we've all been there. Maybe you would like to close a deal with someone with a handshake but since the two of you are thousands of miles away, the best you can do is an emoticon in a text message.
Now there's word that Microsoft has secured a patent that could allow people to give some kind of simulated hug or handshake via force feedback technology. Geekwire reports that Microsoft was awarded their patent by the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office earlier in December.
Microsoft says the patent could be used for something along these lines: "Hugs, hand-shakes, grabbing documents, writing on a whiteboard, and the like can be detected so a specific feedback force response is implemented."
Although Microsoft may never actually put this patent to use in its products, it's possible that it could incorporate its "remote touching" technology in its Skype chat program. If that indeed does happen, we hope that it is used for solid business or personal use. We can't imagine it being used for something else. Oh, wait. Actually, we can.
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