"Hiya-Atsu" media

Abstract

Despite the development of many types of telecommunication systems, it is still hard to convey various types of information in an expressive manner to a remote partner. Our research focuses on using variations in temperature to achieve this. Hiya-Atsu-Mouse, which we developed to implement this idea, is a mouse device with thermal capabilities; the device becomes warmer or colder to the user's palm or fingertip according to the "temperature" of objects on the computer screen. This article evaluates the thermal performance of the device. The comments made by users are collected. Finally, we introduce a practical Hiya-Atsu-Mouse and describe it in operation.