Presented at SXSW 2014: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2014/events/event_IAP21713 As the technology becomes a natural augmentation of our physical relationships, virtual interactions are becoming less of a substitute for physical proximity and rather a mechanism to extend and augment intimacy (play/engagement/closeness) between humans and machines. Humans are drawn to create and sustain intimate connections with each other. This goes beyond a partner sex bond and includes close friends, family and work colleagues. Technology will increasingly facilitate and strengthen these deep human emotional bonds. These deep intimate connections are not limited to human to human subjects. Technology will also facilitate deep connection with machines, computers, devices and sensors embedded in our world.

1. The New Age of
Technology Enhanced
Intimacy
A collaboration between
Strategic Foresight @
University of Houston and OCAD University
Tweet at: #techimacy

2. Project Team
Zahra Ebrahim
@zahraeb
architextinc.com
Karen Oikonen
OCADU
Research & Design
Heather Schlegel
@heathervescent
heathervescent.com
Carl Hastrich
@bouncingideas
bouncingideas.com
bridgeable.com
#techimacy

3. “ Emotional Literacy is made up of ‘the ability to understand
your emotions, the ability to listen to others and empathise
with their emotions, and the ability to express emotions
productively. To be emotionally literate is to be able to handle
emotions in a way that improves your personal power and
improves the quality of life around you. Emotional literacy
improves relationships, creates loving possibilities between
people, makes co-operative work possible, and facilitates the
feeling of community.” - Claude Steiner
#techimacy

4. The current belief is technology is driving
us apart, increased isolation, informal
relationships formulate by false friendships
on social networks, distancing us from
each other.
#techimacy

5. Is there an alternative
to the status quo?
#techimacy

6. Vulnerability
Intimacy Empathy
#techimacy

7. #techimacy

8. Experience true connection
go IN-LINE with UME
Connect with your closest loved one in an entirely new way. Open
yourself to complete honesty, openness and engagement. Totally safe,
this unique experience will connect you without any side effects.
Impossible to describe with words, it must be experienced to be
believed – how do you describe a “new colour”?

9. UME
connecting how we feel
UME
is the global resource for connecting people. With over
25 years of experience, UME began by curing social
disabilities and has never slowed in their efforts to
connect individuals with true and open experiences.

10. UME
connecting how we feel
EMP-CONNECT
EMP-CONNECT is a bio-patch that integrates your
personal physiology with technology that you control
directly, allowing you to experience the feelings of those
around you, and share your world experience to those
who care about you.

11. IN-LINE
The first major new product from UME, allows
a complete connection between two people.
This includes mental, physical, visual, chemical and
auditory connection and reveals a true, fully engaged
experience.
UME
connecting how we feel

12. #techimacy

13. > Wang Xiu Ying announces empathy
technology she successfully developed to
be used for Aspergers patients.
> The Canadian Institute of Health
Research announce awards for
scientists investigating the positive
health impacts of emotional
connection and empathy.
> Cameron Tufnell (co-founder of
UME) announcement about leaving
Canadian military research results
in controversy: this notorious
weapons researcher has been
seemingly hit by altruism.
Announces his family has
hereditary Aspergers.
#techimacy

14. > Huge technological advances are made in
encrypting private information when
broadcast publicly.
> Social concern for “oversharing”
now being researched as a
potential physiological disorder.
> A beta tester opens up their EMP-
FEED and shares emotions with
anyone that signs up. Thousands
of people tune into this person’s
experience. The launch of radical
emotional transparency.
#techimacy

15. > Canadian Government releases alarming news that fragmented
families are the social norm. The Canadian Institute of Health
Research announces new funding for researchers focusing on
“healthy connections” that bring families back together.
> Property Developer Fred Dumo creates a UME community in North
Vancouver, where all individuals must have embedded empathy
technology. This ensures a neighborhood of only the financial elite
and “good people who understand one another”.
#techimacy

16. > The EMP-CONNECT early adopters are
sports athletes with integrated monitoring
technology included for coaching staff.
PGA Tour won by Xing Pang who credits
EMP-CONNECT for “just in time” advice.
#techimacy

17. > IN-LINE Ceremonies replace weddings.
> UME encounters religious pushback:
seen as interfering with “higher
connections” to God.
#techimacy

18. > EMP-CONNECT Surgery patients recover
faster. There is a surge in post-op children
with EMP-CONNECT caretakers and
nurses.
#techimacy

19. > Couple die in house fire while IN-LINE:
don’t hear fire alarm.
#techimacy

20. > Primary school rejects any students
without EMP-CONNECT.
#techimacy

21. > People with UME dominate positive
headlines in education, politics, and
healthcare.
> Open Government is enhanced as EMP-
CONNECT is used to engage the public
with political processes.
#techimacy

22. UME
connecting how we feel
Join the conversation:
Tweet questions/comments to #techimacy

23. Thank you.
Zahra Ebrahim
@zahraeb
architextinc.com
Karen Oikonen
OCADU
Research & Design
Heather Schlegel
@heathervescent
heathervescent.com
Carl Hastrich
@bouncingideas
bouncingideas.com
bridgeable.com
UME website: http://www.heathervescent.com/ume
#techimacy