Emotions: Investigating the Vital Role of Tactile Interaction

Social isolation, resulting from various factors, has become a prevalent concern in today's society. This study explores the potential of tactile interaction as a remedy for social isolation. By employing data mining to understand pandemic-induced emotional conditions and identifying the negative emotions in need of healing, and by using experiment, we introduce the “Emotional Nourishment Project.” This project establishes a virtual world, named “Emotional Nourishment,” within a real-world context, simulating a doomsday scenario. In this context, we have designed an interactive device that materializes emotional states through physical interactions. The device incorporates hardware and software components, utilizing Arduino IDE for programming. The rationale behind this endeavor lies in its situational relevance, enhanced participation, and ability to emphasize the impact of emotional interactions. Through this project, we aim to shed light on the profound significance of tactile interaction in healing social isolation.