Lucy McRae's hugging machine is a response to the continuous digitization of culture and the increasingly tech-focused future. Her piece addresses the alienating reality of technology. Although we are more connected now than ever, the act of online communication and interaction omits a very primal and very necessary component of human existence — touch.
The hugging machine is a prototype that tackles the "touch crisis." The Los Angeles-based artist looks for ways to determine whether "mechanical touch, rather than physical contact with other humans, will become the solution."
Lucy McRae's hugging machine has been dubbed 'Compression Carpet.' To experience the device, one must lay in it, while someone else turns the handle. The piece then sandwiches the person between two cushions, simulating a full-body embrace.
Photo Credits: Dezeen
Intimacy-Introducing Hugging Machines
Lucy McRae Explores the Connotations of Mechanical Touch
Trend Themes
1. Mechanical Touch - The trend of utilizing mechanical touch as a solution for the lack of physical contact in a tech-focused future.
2. Intimacy Tech - The trend of developing technologies that address the need for human connection and intimacy.
3. Hugging Innovations - The trend of creating innovative machines and devices that simulate the experience of hugging and physical touch.
Industry Implications
1. Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence can be utilized to develop more realistic and interactive hugging machines.
2. Wellness - The wellness industry can explore incorporating hugging machines as a means to promote mental and emotional well-being through simulated touch experiences.
3. Virtual Reality - Virtual reality technology can be leveraged to enhance the immersive and realistic sensations of hugging machines, providing a more lifelike experience for users.