The Long-Distance Device (Unnamed)

Problem: Handwritten letters take forever to arrive, are awkward to write and I miss sweet little notes. Plus you never know when your letter will arrive so the news you tell them on the letter could be old news. Using a huge scanner. sending it then having that person print it out is hassling and not portable.
Functionality: Inside the right arm of the device is a scanner that scans a 1.5cm x Xcm strip where you can write your message. It goes in through the back, then exits through the front. The scanner then sends the electric pulses and prints it out through the “partner’s” left arm.

Problem: I’d like it if I could have physical pictures of special events my family/S.O./friends are experiencing. Or just a picture to say hi would be nice. Or a more recent picture of the boyfriend to put in my wallet. Physical photos > Digital photos sometimes, y’know.
Functionality: There is a tiny camera the size of a needle pinpoint located on the device’s “forehead”. Pressing the right ear of the device takes a 4cm x 6cm photo and immediately prints out the photo to the “partner”. Think of it as a two-body Polaroid.

Problem: Now, this is the selling point of this device. The biggest problem of any long distance relationship is the physical connection.
Functionality: (It’s explained in the photo. See: Fig. 2)

Now, obviously, a few lights won’t be able to truly replace the physical touch of the person, but it does hold a sort of comfort. If you’ve never been in a long-distance relationship, not even with a significant other, it may be a really close friend or family member -just imagine, a mother in Dubai writes her note “Goodnight, my darling.” and her eight-year old daughter in the Philippines replies, in blue-red-green crayon, “Goodnight, Mama.” and all Mama has to do now is glide her finger across the device’s “forehead” and the forehead of the little doll with the daughter lights up. She knows what it is -it’s a kiss goodnight.

People like me take comfort in the smallest things -like a short online message or posting a picture of yourself to send to me once in a while. It makes me feel relieved to know that despite not talking to people for long periods of time, we’d still be as close as if we talk everyday. But sometimes, it gets pretty lonely and digital things are cold. Typed words are cold. It would be nice to wake up to a handwritten 1.5cm x 9cm strip of paper that say, “Hey! Hope you have a great day!”, don’t you think? Or working on a project and see something out of the corner of my eye light up around the shoulders almost as if it’s saying, “Good luck! I’m supporting you!”.