A graduate student in technology recently demonstrated her thesis idea to her classmates ... in her underwear. I knew I should have continued my education...

Jennifer Chowdhury, a master's student in New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program, designed a product called "Intimate Controllers," which lets users control the action on a video game not through boring joysticks but through something that can provide some real joy: sensors embedded in underwear!

Chowdhury included a video in her presentation that showed her and a, um, friend wearing the underwear and playing a pong-type game with Intimate Controllers, which use sensors on the shoulders and breasts (on women) and thighs and buttocks (on guys). The man stands behind the woman and reaches forward to use the controllers; the woman reaches behind her to touch the sensors on the man. Sensual, yes; raunchy, no. It's more of a playful innovation that couples could use rather than a sleazy porn product.

You can see the demo of the device (complete with techno dance music), as well as Chowdhury's thesis presentation, at her Web site.

I don't think any of my friends had this much fun when they were in grad school...