Thanks to Education World for use of my Mrs. Waffenschmidt illustration.

Thanks to Education World for use of my Mrs. Waffenschmidt illustration.
Click on icon to go to my website: http://www.gailhennessey.com

Friday, February 7, 2014

Sensory Fiction Books....Would this be a good thing?

Engineers at MIT are developing new technology that will enable readers to actually feel what is happening in the story,and not just through your imagination. The books come with wearable gear for what is being called "sensory Fiction". Specially adapted books come with special sensors that will signal to the device when you reach a scary part. The result might be a vibration or a tightening of your chest. Other sensory responses might be to give you a chill down your spine or increase skin temps to make you turn red for an embarrassing moment in the book. Other sensors in the book will cause the words to brighten or dim depending on the mood or setting. The book used for the experimental technology of sensory fiction was The Girl who was Plugged In by James Tiptree. The technology for sensory fiction books for consumers are still a few years away. 

What do you think? Would you wish to read such a book or would you prefer using your own imagination as you read?



Photograph from NPR.org

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