SINGAPORE - Wish you could hug a loved one who is not by your side?

That thought first crossed Dr James Teh's mind when he was dating a Singapore Airlines stewardess, who is now his wife, six years ago.

"I missed her when she was flying around the world. And I'm a scientist. When faced with problems, we try to creatively solve them," said the computer and electrical engineering researcher at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

And that idea grew into something bigger - a jacket that can remotely "hug" people with special needs to calm and console them.

The T.Jacket, as it is called, is a deep-touch pressure vest that uses air bags inside it to simulate a hug for its wearers.