When our hearts meet
A wearable device that translates another person’s heart rate into warmth in the wearer’s palm, exploring intimacy and connection through embodied, screenless interaction.
Team: Lindsay Liu, Sejal Bandil, Kyra Li
Our Approach
Built for a physical computing course, When Our Hearts Meet uses simple inputs and bodily signals to turn a vital sign into a shared sensory experience. By connecting physiological data with tactile feedback, the device encourages quiet moments of closeness that feel immediate and personal rather than mediated by screens. The project explores how subtle interactions can create emotional resonance through design and materiality.
Our project addresses the growing desire for authentic, physical social connections in an increasingly digital world. It is designed to "force" a physical presence, as the interaction only activates when users are together, turning an invisible biological signal (a heartbeat) into a tangible sensation (heat).
Research & Inspiration
Team Penguins (Tous les Jours): We were inspired by the idea of "collective heat" and how huddling together creates a community experience.
Pulse Room (Lozano-Hemmer): We analyzed how heartbeats can be visualized but wanted to move away from the "surveillance" feel of a public room and toward a private, tactile connection.
Sketches and process
This project moved from a technical exercise in sensor reading to an exploration of human intimacy. By using a sensor that picks up stress and emotion, we’ve created an "interactive art piece" that makes the internal state of a friend or stranger unavoidable and felt.
Challenges & Iterations
Heat Safety: Finding the balance between "noticeable warmth" and "safety" using the heating pads is an ongoing calibration task.