| CPC G06F 3/016 (2013.01) [G06F 3/04144 (2019.05); H04L 67/10 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04102 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04103 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |

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1. A method of controlling an electronic device including a plurality of pins extending from a body, the pins including couplings to facilitate movement of a first portion of the pins relative to a second portion of the pins and a plurality of heads disposed on the pins, each head including a plurality of facets, wherein each facet of the plurality of facets has a different material property, the pins being controllable to control the movement of the first portion relative to the second portion and to control a force applied by the pins on an external object, sensors cooperating with the pins to detect forces externally applied to the pins, a communication subsystem for communication, over a network, with a remote electronic device, and a controller coupled to the pins, the sensors, and the communication subsystem, the method comprising:
initiating communication with the remote electronic device;
based on detected forces externally applied to the pins, transmitting a signal to the remote electronic device for controlling the remote electronic device to simulate the detected force externally applied to the pins;
based on signals received from the remote electronic device in response to a remote force detected at the remote electronic device, actuating ones of the pins to control the movement of the first portion relative to the second portion and to control the force applied by the pins on the external object to simulate the remote force detected at the remote electronic device.
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