Sustaining a caring relationship at a distance: Can haptics and 3D technologies overcome the deficits in 2D direct synchronous video based communication?

Many family carers are single parents over the age of 60. Despite poor health, the majority continue to care for a son/daughter with complex needs, such as intellectual disability, autism and cognitive deficits (hereafter referred to as ID). It is estimated that only 21% of these ageing carers have made adequate plans for the future care of their son or daughter. One significant barrier to future planning is a parent's fear that they will not be able to make regular visits to their loved one if he or she leaves the family home. People with complex needs are often placed in new residences that prove difficult or impossible for parents/guardians to access. This fear of separation can prevent carers from engaging in future planning. A review of modern communication technologies, for maintaining a distant caring/family relationship, reveals that 2D synchronous video based communication tools such as Skype and FaceTime do not represent a satisfying alternative to personal visits. It will be argued that 3D communication tools can form the basis for more fulfilling interactions. Three key differences have been identified between 2D and 3D communications that are relevant to maintaining family relationships: eye contact, touch, and the feeling of presence (sharing the same space). Addressing these differences, this paper offers an insight into advancing of 3D technologies for real time 3D scanning with real-time virtual, augmented, and mixed reality systems technologies, such as Microsoft's Holoportation. In addition, the haptic feedback options that are currently available for use with 3D systems and solutions are reviewed. The majority of haptic feedback devices have been developed for gaming application. However, typically, these products are not suitable for people with complex needs. A current technology review will be presented as a comparative analysis. A new communication system prototype designed specifically for people with complex needs, called embraceID, will be introduced. This aims to overcome the deficits of 2D synchronous video communication by combining Holoportation inspired systems with innovative haptics that differ significantly from gaming wearables. Using embraceID will enhance the sense of physical presence, for example, a mother will be able to see her daughter in 3D and give her a hug that is haptically experienced by both.