Are you ready for iMassage?

Although not an official Apple product, Human Touch’s robotic massage chairs sync with the electronics giant’s iPhone and iPod touch through its new HT-Connect application allowing users to receive a personalized massage by simply pressing a button on the hand-held device.

“HT-Connect was designed to meet the growing needs of today’s consumers who rely on their wireless personal devices to stay connected and live better,” said David Wood, chief executive officer of Human Touch.

The application, which debuted at the recent home-furnishings show at World Market Center Las Vegas, interfaces with Human Touch’s newest, most-state-of-the-art massage chair, the AcuTouch 9500. It allows users to personalize their massages to their individual needs and desires.

“We’re at the forefront of doing anything like this,” said Andrew Corkill, director of product management for Human Touch. “We’re the first one to use an iPod or iPhone to interface with an appliance.”

There are 16 auto-programmed massages designed for specific purposes, including morning wake up, rejuvenate, surrender, clarify, sports/back therapy, focus, posture, sore muscle relief and sleep.

Just by knowing if it’s night or day, it can suggest the type of massage you might need, Corkill said.

Also available through the application are the Espresso Shots, five-minute massages that target specific areas. “It shows you a body map and you scroll through to the area where you want to feel better,” he added.

The intuitive program also remembers personal preferences and settings, allowing a person to get the same massage on any AcuTouch 9500 chair as they do at home.

One of the advantages of the application is that it uncomplicates the process of figuring out how to operate the massage chair and takes away the awkward remote control, Corkill said. The chair interfaces with the iPod or iPhone through a Bluetooth wireless connection.

As with all of Human Touch’s massage chairs, the AcuTouch 9500 utilizes the company’s proprietary massage technology that simulates the movements of the human hand. The robotic technology emulates the rolling, kneading, compression and percussion techniques used by professional massage therapists.

“This speaks to the vision of what Human Touch is all about: to help people feel better,” Wood said.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, nearly one-fourth of Americans have used massage therapy at least once for pain relief, and 87 percent of those who have had at least one massage within the past five years say it is beneficial to health and wellness, including as a stress reducer.

Additionally, through the application, users will have instant access to information from the company’s Wellness Council members about how to live better through regular massage, relaxation and a healthy lifestyle.

The council includes PGA Pro Tim Clark, former Olympian Jeff Galloway and experts from the fields of naturopathy and chiropractic.

Biographical information about council members, how they use massage and their personal preferences are featured as well.

Corkill said the company has spent about a year developing the application, the preprogrammed massages and gathering the necessary information.

And, if you don’t want a massage, the chair is perfectly comfortable just to sit in and relax. Corkill said that when reclined in the neutral position, it decompresses your spine and raises your knees above your heart to help improve circulation.

The traditional looking chair comes upholstered in leather and can be used in a home theater setting, especially when accompanied by a complementary wedge table.

The application will be available as a free download from www.HT-Connect.com or the Apple App Store.

The chairs and application are expected to be available in early summer. Several area retailers sell Human Touch products.

The chair will retail for $5,999 and Corkill said the company is planning a promotional event to launch that chair and application that will include a free iPod touch with purchase.

Currently, the AcuTouch 9500 is the company’s most high-end product.

For additional information, visit www.humantouch.com or ht-connect.com.