Couples in long-distance relationships can now kiss one another remotely using a bizarre device, which has left many social media users feeling a little uneasy.
The remote kissing product was invented by a team of students at a university in East China’s Jiangsu Province, having been patented by the Changzhou Vocational Institute of Mechatronic Technology.
It has a mouth-shaped silicon feature that the user can press their lips onto, with the romantic gesture then transferred to their partner’s device by simulating the sender’s pressure, movement and heat using sensors.
And through the power of modern technology, the pecking device can be linked to a phone using Bluetooth and an app, before sending the replica of the kiss to the desired recipient.
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This means you could be miles away from your lover and still share a cheeky smooch, albeit a slightly robotic one.
The amorous mobile phone accessory was created by a university team helmed by graduate Jiang Zhongli, who is listed as its leading inventor.
Speaking about how he came up with the novel idea, Zhongli said: "In my university, I was in a long distance relationship with my girlfriend so we only contact with each other through phone. That's where the inspiration of this device originated."
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According to the South China Morning Post, the product costs 260 yuan (US $38) each and 550 yuan for a pair on the Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao – which is reportedly selling at a rate of ‘more than 100 a month’.
One happy customer wrote in their online review: "My partner didn’t believe that (remote) kissing could be achieved at first, so her jaw dropped when she used it … This is the best surprise I have given her during our long-distance relationship.
"Thank you, technology."
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Understandably, some people aren’t quite so sold on the idea just yet.
A video of the gadget in action was posted on Reddit recently, with the caption explaining: “Remote kissing device recently invented by a Chinese university student. The device is designed specifically for long-distance relationships and can mimic and transfer the kiss of a person to the ‘mouth on the other side’.”
One person commented to say the concept was ‘hella dystopian’, while another wrote: “Oh yeah because people would totally be cool with me walking around with a robotic fleshlight attached to my phone.”
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Another said: “Someone's going to find... different uses for this.”
A third added: “Human-made horrors beyond my comprehension.”
Many others said that they’d seen a similar idea on The Big Bang Theory, with one asking: “Didn't Howard invent this on The Big Bang Theory?”
According to the Global Times, it's believed Jiang applied for a patent in 2019, but that this ended in January this year, and he now hopes the idea can be built upon to perfect the design.
Topics: Technology, Sex and Relationships
Jess Hardiman