Proceedings Article | 15 September 2008
KEYWORDS: Telecommunications, Video, Sensors, Visualization, Image transmission, Vibration control, Relays, Environmental sensing, Brain, Information security
In the modern information society, networks are getting faster, costs are getting lower, and displays are getting clearer.
Today, just about anyone can easily use precise, dynamic, image distribution systems in their everyday life. Now, the
question is how to give the benefits of network systems to the local community, as well as to each individual.This study
was designed to use communication with realistic sensations to examine the effectiveness of remote individual
counseling intervention in reducing depression, anxiety and stress in child-rearing mothers. Three child-rearing mothers
residing in the city of Osaka each received one session of remote counseling intervention. The results showed an
alleviation of stress related to child-rearing, i.e., the reduction in state anxiety, depression and subjective stress related to
child-rearing. Moreover, an experimental demonstration employed a HyperMirror system capable of presenting visual
and auditory images similar to reality, in order to provide the counselees with realistic sensations. While the voice
communication environment was poor, the remote counseling allowed for the communication of sensory information,
i.e., skinship that communicated information related to assurance/peace of mind, and auditory information, i.e., a
whispering voices in which signals of affection were transmitted; the realistic sensation contributed to a reduction in
stress levels. The positive effects of the intervention were confirmed through a pre and post intervention study. The
results suggested the need to conduct future studies to confirm the mid- and long-term improvements caused by the
intervention, as well as the need to improve the voice transmission environment.
