Hiroo Iwata (J), born in 1957, is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Engineering Mechanics at the University of Tsukuba, where he teaches human interface and conducts research projects on virtual reality. MS and PhD in engineering from the University of Tokyo; is active in research on force feedback in virtual environments. He has developed various force displays and applied them to 3D shape modelling and scientific visualization.

"Cross-active System" is a modified virtual reality system, in which the motion input from one participant provides sensory feedback to the other participant. In an ordinary interactive system, a user obtains sensory feedback in response to his/her own motion input. In "Cross-active System", two participants experience unusual communication by dividing the sensory feedback from their motion input. The "Cross-active System" installation consists of a motion platform capable of moving up to six degrees in any direction, with a large screen in front of it, and a micro-video camera with a position sensor. One participant sits on the motion platform and the other participant holds the micro-video camera. The image from the camera is displayed on the big screen, while the motion from the micro-video camera is tracked by the position sensor. Since the data from the position sensor controls the motion platform, a slight motion of the micro-video camera results in a large motion on the part of the motion platform. The sensory experience of the participant on the motion platform is controlled by the other participant in a ratio of 1/100.