concept

Sending and receiving shared emotional signals

A press-and-hold gesture lets users browse through a set of personalized emotion colors before releasing to send one. When an emotion is shared, both spaces respond with coordinated light and sound, turning an individual feeling into a shared ambient moment.

Personalized device and emotion setup

Each device can be freely placed within the space and personalized through a simple QR-based setup. Users assign their own light and sound combinations to different emotions, shaping the system around their own emotional language.

Detecting shared co-presence across spaces

The main control quietly monitors whether both users are present in their spaces. Once co-presence is detected, a small indicator light appears, signaling that emotional exchange can begin.

How FeltSpace Works

Multi-device system for shared ambient communication

Each person uses a set of three devices: one main controller for sending positive and negative emotions, and two passive responder devices for ambient output. When an emotion is sent, both users’ spaces activate simultaneously through coordinated light and sound, creating a shared emotional experience across distance.

Context-aware signal adaptation

Devices dynamically adapts light and sound output to remain perceptible across different environments without becoming overwhelming. The light device adjusts brightness and pulsing patterns based on ambient lighting, while the sound device adapts volume according to surrounding noise levels.

Emotion personalization interface

A companion web interface allows users to personalize emotional mappings enabling devices to react instantly during setup. The interface also explains the purpose and behavior of the system, helping users understand how FeltSpace works. In addition, it provides device status feedback, including offline and connection states, so users can quickly identify when a device is not functioning properly.

prototyping process

3D-printed device enclosure and hardware assembly

User testing

Lab testing and home deployment

The devices were evaluated in both controlled laboratory settings and private homes. The lab study focused on testing device stability, perceptibility, and system behavior under controlled conditions, while the in-home deployment examined how the devices influenced everyday behavior, emotional awareness, and communication over time.