So you should be able to move your partner from the other side of the earth

To touch your partner's cheek even though you have a long distance relationship, or to give a colleague an encouraging pat on the back after a long video conference in the home office.

That's what researcher John A. Rogers and his team want to make a reality. 

They have developed small skin-like plates that attach to the body.

The artificial skin is connected to a computer, and when the monitor is touched, it is felt via the skin plate. 

"Complements the experience"

The hope is that the technology can be used in everything from prostheses with a feel to computer games and social media. 

- We see it as complementing the user experience of social media that we have now.

Now only sight and hearing are involved, says John A. Rogers.

Want to know more about how body touch affects us?

See the whole world of Science - The power of body touch on Monday 11 October at 20:00 on SVT2 or already now on SVT Play.