The newest and most financially exploitable Pillow Talk works by each person wearing a sensor when they go to bed at night.  The chest sensor wirelessly communicates with the other person’s pillow so when one person goes to bed, their lover’s pillow begins to glow softly to indicate their presence. A head placed on the pillow allows you to hear the real-time heartbeat of your loved one, intimate interaction regardless of the distance.

The judges noted that the concept of "digital presence" has never before been tackled commercially. The Distance Lab product was an art concept. The product can create a new way for people to interact, as well as opening up an entirely new field of communication.


Joanna  (23), originally from Edinburgh, has just formed her own company – called Little Riot Ltd – to develop the product and said she was delighted to have won the funding.
 
“I came across the competition by accident, and so it’s fantastic that I’ve won,” she said.  “The product currently only exists as it did at the Degree Show, ie. as an experience prototype, but I am subcontracting engineering companies and product designers to develop a fully working prototype, so we’ll take it from there.
 
“The idea came about because I am interested in creating ways for people to interact in a more subtle way. Technology has become something we actively engage with every day and I wanted my concept to fit in with the user’s life, rather than be added on top of it”.