The sensation of a drink in the throat is a salient example of the internal bodily feelings that shape our eating experiences. Computationally modeling these sensations would enable their redesign and inform technologies that augment how we eat. However, methods for quantifying such subjective, internal states from objective cues remain underdeveloped. This paper introduces a computational approach to bridge this gap. A first study (N = 31) models subjective ratings from laryngeal skin temperature and ingested volume, revealing distinct, individual Interoceptive Profiles. Informed by these findings, we developed a wearable device that provides thermal feedback to the larynx. A second study (N = 20) demonstrates that this intervention can alter drink sensations, contingent on the user’s sensory profile. Based on these findings, we highlight the potential of the larynx as a site for bidirectional interaction (sensing and modulating) and propose a novel approach for personalized sensory augmentation.

This study presents a systematic literature search and narrative meta-review of the current state of research on conversational agents (CAs), including embodied CAs, chatbots, and social assistive robots (SARs).The investigation identifies 1,830 academic articles, of which 315 articles satisfied the inclusion criteria for the review.Systematic reviews across various fields are reported, including mental disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, dementia/cognitive impairment, other medical conditions, elderly support, health promotion, mental health, education, industrial applications, agent characteristics, and robot characteristics.The study highlights challenges in current CA research, such as the scarcity of high-quality comparative studies and the acceptance of CAs by users and caregivers, particularly in elderly support.The article also categorises ethical discussions into nine elements: privacy, safety, innovation, user acceptance, psychological attachment, care philosophy, evaluation, social systems compatibility, and rule development.It also offers insights into the development of future guidelines.The role of CAs in fostering human relationships through their conversational function is emphasised to provide guidance for subsequent CA research and social implementation.As advancements in CA technology and research continue to progress, there is an increasing demand for sophisticated psychological investigations addressing relationships, emotions, and the self.

In this paper, we aim to enhance the interaction between the performer and the audience in live idol performances. We propose a system for converting the movements of individual members of an idol group into vibrations and their voices into light on handheld devices for the audience. Specifically, for each performer, the system acquires data on movement and voice magnitudes via an acceleration sensor attached to the right wrist and microphone. The obtained data is then converted into motor vibrations and lights from an LED. The receiving devices for the audience members come in the form of a pen light or doll. A prototype system was made to collect acceleration data and voice magnitude data measurements for our experiments with an idol group in Japan to verify whether the performer's movements and singing voice could be correctly measured during real live performance conditions. We developed a program to present the strength of the movements and singing voice corresponding to one of the members as vibrations and lights based on the information of the recorded data. Then, an experiment was conducted for eight subjects that observed the performance. We found that seven out of eight subjects could identify the idol performer with corresponding vibrations and lighting from the device.

In this paper, we propose a remote monitoring and communication system for elderly care. We aim to detect emergencies concerning elderly people living alone and send alerts to his/her family from a remote location. For this reason, the system has two modules: the monitoring module and the video chat module. When the monitoring module of the system detects any unusual events concerning the elderly, the system sends an alert message to their family's smart phone. Then, their family can monitor the current situation via the video chat module. The elderly and his/her family member can also easily use the video chat function for day-to-day communication without requiring any complex actions for the users. For the video chat display at the elderly side, we use a television set, which all elderly would be expected to have in their rooms. This gives our system a familiar appearance so the elderly can use it without feeling aversion towards the system. The monitoring system for detecting emergencies is a doll-like robot. Besides monitoring, the robot can also initiate simple conversations autonomously in normal situations, which can improve the elderly person's sense of familiarity towards the system.