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

A first mobile computing device comprising one or more processors configured to perform operations comprising:

• receiving an input of a set of pressure sensors that are arranged on opposing sides of the first mobile computing device and are configured to detect a magnitude of applied pressure, wherein the set of pressure sensors and a haptic actuator are external to the first mobile computing device and are part of a removable body extending around an external surface of the first mobile computing device;
• 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 pressure sensor input for the second mobile computing device, wherein the pressure sensor input is associated with pressure applied to the second mobile computing device;
• and
• causing the haptic actuator for the first mobile computing device to generate a haptic output corresponding to the pressure applied to the second mobile computing device, wherein the haptic actuator causes the removable body extending around the external surface of the first mobile computing device to alter stiffness to generate the haptic output.

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 an input of a set of pressure sensors that are arranged on opposing sides of a first mobile computing device and are configured to detect a magnitude of applied pressure, wherein the set of pressure sensors and a haptic actuator are external to the first mobile computing device and are part of a removable body extending around an external surface of the first mobile computing device;
• 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 pressure sensor input of the second mobile computing device, wherein the pressure sensor input is associated with a pressure applied to the second mobile computing device;
• and
• causing the haptic actuator for the first mobile computing device to generate a haptic output corresponding to the pressure applied to the second mobile computing device, wherein the haptic actuator causes the removable body extending around the external surface of the first mobile computing device to alter stiffness to generate the haptic output.