Techniques for simulated physical interaction between users via their mobile computing devices

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a first mobile computing device, a first pressure sensor input of a pressure sensor that is configured to detect a magnitude of applied pressure associated with a first user;

transmitting, by the first mobile computing device, a signal to a second mobile computing device, wherein the signal corresponds to the magnitude of the applied pressure;

receiving, by the first mobile computing device, a signal from the second mobile computing device that corresponds to a second pressure sensor input for the second mobile computing device, wherein the second pressure sensor input is associated with pressure associated with a second user; and

causing, by the first mobile computing device, a haptic actuator communicatively coupled to the first mobile computing device to generate a haptic output corresponding to the pressure associated with the second user, wherein the haptic actuator causes a body configured to extend or retract to alter stiffness to generate the haptic output.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first mobile computing device is positioned on a head, a shoulder, a back, or a wrist of the first user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first mobile computing device is communicatively coupled to a device in clothing of the first user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises a deformable pressure sensor.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises one or more piezoelectric actuators external to the first mobile computing device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises a plurality of haptic actuators on one or more sides of the first mobile computing device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first mobile computing device is communicatively coupled to a movable body in contact with the first user.

8. A system comprising one or more processors configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by a first mobile computing device, a first pressure sensor input of a pressure sensor that is configured to detect a magnitude of applied pressure associated with a first user;

transmitting a signal to a second mobile computing device, wherein the signal corresponds to the magnitude of the applied pressure;

receiving a signal from the second mobile computing device that corresponds to a second pressure sensor input for the second mobile computing device, wherein the second pressure sensor input is associated with pressure associated with a second user; and

causing a haptic actuator communicatively coupled to the first mobile computing device to generate a haptic output corresponding to the pressure associated with the second user, wherein the haptic actuator causes a body configured to extend or retract to alter stiffness to generate the haptic output.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first mobile computing device is positioned on a head, a shoulder, a back, or a wrist of the first user.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first mobile computing device is communicatively coupled to a device in clothing of the first user.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises a deformable pressure sensor.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises one or more piezoelectric actuators external to the first mobile computing device.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises a haptic actuator on one or more sides of the first mobile computing device.

14. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first pressure sensor input of a pressure sensor that is configured to detect a magnitude of applied pressure associated with a first user;

transmitting a signal to a second mobile computing device, wherein the signal corresponds to the magnitude of the applied pressure;

receiving a signal from the second mobile computing device that corresponds to a second pressure sensor input of the second mobile computing device, wherein the second pressure sensor input is associated with a pressure associated with a second user; and

causing a haptic actuator communicatively coupled to the first mobile computing device to generate a haptic output corresponding to the pressure associated with the second user, wherein the haptic actuator causes a body configured to extend or retract to alter stiffness to generate the haptic output.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the first mobile computing device is positioned on a head, a shoulder, a back, or a wrist of the first user.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the first mobile computing device communicatively coupled to a device in clothing of the first user.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises a deformable pressure sensor.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises one or more piezoelectric actuators external to the first mobile computing device.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises a plurality of haptic actuators on one or more sides of the first mobile computing device.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the first mobile computing device is communicatively coupled to a movable body in contact with the first user.