This conversation will surely go to a place we did not mean it to, but we'll give it a whirl: Did you ever wish you could get more intimate with the Internet? We spend so much time in the virtual space, but only explore it with two senses. Kind of a pity for a species that experiences so much through touch. But researchers around the world are developing various forms of haptic technologies that will further merge the tactile and the digital. Why should we settle for some silly virtual Facebook "poke," when we could be literally poking our friends from anywhere in the world? The 1970s saw the first vibrating beepers (kids, ask your parents or see early-'90s rap videos) that converted data into physical sensation. This primordial buzzy tech evolved little as it found its way into our current crop of smartphones and game controllers. But untargeted vibrating gadgets only hint at what haptics have to offer. To that end, we present eight promising technologies that will further plug our mortal coils into The Matrix. These tactile gadgets may one day be seen as a stop-gap before The Singularity comes and our brains connect directly to computers where we experiences sensations from phantom limbs we never even knew existed. But, in the mean time, here's some cool tech that allow us to smack, prod, and pinch the digital world. (And vice versa.) Poke the gallery below to get rolling. Bonus if you're tapping on a touchscreen.

Three things come to mind when you think of the brand Ferrari: red, fast and expensive. Maybe, even Italian. Ferrari wrapped up its 2011 World Design Contest that pitted designs students from over 50 schools from around the world to design a "hypercar whose design reflects social changes and technical innovation without sacrificing the brand's performance and iconic appearance." Three South Korean design students took first place with their Ferrari Eternity concept car — the future of Ferrari. Excuse us, while we wipe the drool off our chins.

Gamers want the PlayStation 4. Developers want the PlayStation 4. Sony says not to expect the PS4 for at least another handful of years. What's a brother to do if he really wants a PS4? If your name is Joseph Dumary, you design your own and cram it with so much futuristic tech, the "father of the PlayStation," Ken Kutaragi, would cry tears to see this thing make it past the the concept stage.

What with the surge in cheap and easy consumer electronics over the past decade, it's all too easy to spend your entire vacation attempting to document said vacation, thereby ruining the experience and making your friends and family miserable. The Seed concept takes care of all that for you, allowing you to relax and enjoy yourself for a change.