feelWere

FeelWere is a term used in discussions of affective computing to describe an integrated platform and ecosystem for conveying and sharing human emotional states through synchronized sensory feedback. The concept envisions a system that couples biometric sensing with adaptive stimuli to create or communicate felt experiences across digital and physical environments. The name blends feel with were, signaling a shared or transferred state of feeling in mediated interactions.

In typical descriptions, feelWere comprises three layers: sensing, interpretation, and actuation. The sensing layer collects signals such as heart rate, skin conductance, facial electromyography, and ambient context via wearables or cameras. The interpretation layer uses machine learning to classify or rate arousal and valence, subject to privacy-preserving on-device processing. The actuation layer delivers multisensory feedback—tactile haptics, spatial audio, lighting, and scent cues—designed to align with the inferred state or to modulate it for communication, rehabilitation, or immersion.

History and status: feelWere is primarily discussed in speculative design, academic demonstrations, and some industry prototypes exploring affective interfaces. There is no standardized implementation, and real-world deployments remain experimental, often with emphasis on user consent and data governance.

Applications: potential uses include virtual reality immersion, remote collaboration, social presence in gaming, therapeutic contexts, and accessibility tools that render emotional or social cues.

Challenges include privacy, consent, interpretation accuracy, and risk of manipulation.

See also: affective computing, haptic feedback, telepresence, wearable technology.