A novel Chinese device that simulates physical intimacy through warm, moving silicon "lips" has captured the attention of social media users. The device employs pressure sensors and actuators to mimic the movements, temperature, and pressure of a kiss, while also transmitting the accompanying sound.
To send a kiss, users need to download a mobile app and connect the device to their phone's charging port. Couples can then start a video call and send replicas of their kisses to each other. While some users found the device humorous, others criticized it as "vulgar" and "creepy," with some expressing concern about minors using it.
The device was reportedly invented by Jiang Zhongli, who applied for a patent in 2019, which expired in January 2023. Jiang hopes that someone else will improve on and refine the design. In addition to enabling long-distance couples to share intimate moments, the device also allows users to anonymously pair up with strangers in a "kissing square" function on the app, where successful matches can exchange kisses. The device has received positive reviews on online shopping sites and is priced at 288 yuan (US$41).
“In my university, I was in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend so we only had contact with each other through the phone. That’s where the inspiration of this device originated,” Jiang Zhongli, the leading inventor of the design, was cited as saying by the Global Times.