Hooman Samani’s ‘Kissinger’ is the size and shape of a softball and has a pair of touch-sensitive lips that detect and copy how each partner delivers their kiss.
“Humans can kiss virtual characters while playing games and receive physical kisses from their favourite virtual characters,” Samani wrote on his website.
The inventor is also keen to explore the theory that the Kissinger could bring about a more intimate relationship between humans and robots.
“Kissing is a very important mode of human communication that involves joining lips in order to express many deep felt positive emotions such as affection, respect, greeting, farewell, good luck, romantic affection or sexual desire,” he wrote.
“Technology provides a new facility for closer and more realistic interactions between humans.”
The artificial intelligence guru has also createda pair of cabbage patch doll “surrogates” that emulate the human voice and movement over the internet using motion tracking sensors, speakers and microphones.
