A human pillow? Creative Japanese invention aims to relieve stress in long distance communication

The 'Hugvie' looks and feels like a 'human.'

New Japanese technology introduces an invention that is shaped like a friend, and has the ability to even sound like a friend. It might sound complicated, but what they are introducing is simply a human-shaped pillow with a narrow opening in its head for a cellphone.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - This new Japanese invention aims to solve problems of feeling distant or away while communicating on the telephone. They do this by offering the human-shaped cushions, seeming to resemble little people and have skin-like texture, that can hold your mobile phone for you.

This friendly invention is called the "Hugvie," comprised of body parts such as a head, torso, and short limbs. It resembles Casper the Friendly Ghost, minus the facial features. The Hugvie was created with the collaboration of robot engineers, a textile firm and a futon vendor. The Hugvie's name came from a combination of two distinct words: "hug," and the French word for life, "vie."

Users of the Hugvie will just put their phone inside of it when making or receiving a call and then embrace it. According to the engineers at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), people feel closer to the person they are communicating with when two or more senses are engaged. In this case, for example, touch and hearing.

Additionally, ATR, partners Kyoto Nishikawa and industrial materials maker, Toyobo explained that "Hugvie is a simple device that uses voice and tactile senses. It creates a strong sense that the user is hugging the other person, a feeling that cannot be attained via mobile phones." The researcher dubbed this as the "cushion-style communication media."

Principles the developers work with stem from science. Research has revealed that physical contact with a simple, inanimate object decreased the levels of the hormone associated with stress, called cortisol.

The Hugvie stands at 80 centimeters by 55 centimeters or 31 inches by 21 inches, and will be sold for 10,000 yen or $80.

The Hugvie will be available for sale this coming September 2015.

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