CONCEPT

A hugger or a huggee?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4424347.ece
http://www.heartrobot.org.uk/

Heart Robot has sensors that respond to movement, sound, and touch. He also brings up the question does a person want to be just hugged or do they want to hug back at the same time as an active participant.

 

Emotions Influence Design
Breakthrough: Scientists Find Emotions Influence Design
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/breakthrough--scientists-find-emotions-influence-design

Emotion Design
Donald A. Norman.
http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/CH01.pdf

Aesthetic cannot be separated from usability. If only function exists neither user or designer is satisfied. The design needs to take heed of human emotions.