diff --git a/interface/src/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
index 2594bb8a0a..24af81dfdf 100644
--- a/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
@@ -116,10 +116,7 @@ Avatar::Avatar(bool isMine) {
 	_sphere                   = NULL;
     _interactingOther         = NULL;
 	_interactingOtherIsNearby = false;
-    
-    _handHolding.position = glm::vec3( 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 );
-    _handHolding.velocity = glm::vec3( 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 );
-    _handHolding.force    = 10.0f;
+    _handHoldingPosition      = glm::vec3( 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 );
     
     initializeSkeleton();
     
@@ -309,8 +306,7 @@ void Avatar::simulate(float deltaTime) {
     
     if ( !_interactingOtherIsNearby ) {
         //initialize _handHolding
-        _handHolding.position = _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position;
-        _handHolding.velocity = glm::vec3( 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 );
+        _handHoldingPosition = _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position;
     }
     
     _interactingOtherIsNearby = false;
@@ -337,27 +333,20 @@ void Avatar::simulate(float deltaTime) {
                 float distance = glm::length( v );
                 if ( distance < _maxArmLength + _maxArmLength ) {
                                 
-                    //if ( distance < closestDistance ) { // perhaps I don't need this if we want to allow multi-avatar interactions
-                    {
-                        closestDistance = distance;
-                        _interactingOther = otherAvatar;
-                        _interactingOtherIsNearby = true;
-                        
-                        // if I am holding hands with another avatar, a force is applied
-                        if (( _handState == 1 ) ||  ( _interactingOther->_handState == 1 )) {
-                            glm::vec3 vectorToOtherHand = _interactingOther->_handPosition - _handHolding.position;
-                            glm::vec3 vectorToMyHand = _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position - _handHolding.position;
-                                                       
-                            _handHolding.velocity *= 0.7;
-                            _handHolding.velocity += ( vectorToOtherHand + vectorToMyHand ) * _handHolding.force * deltaTime;
-                            _handHolding.position += _handHolding.velocity;
-                            
-                            _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position = _handHolding.position;
-                        }
-                    }
+                    closestDistance = distance;
+                    _interactingOther = otherAvatar;
+                    _interactingOtherIsNearby = true;
                     
-                    _avatarTouch.setMyHandPosition( _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position );
-                    _avatarTouch.setYourPosition( otherAvatar->getBonePosition( AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ) );
+                    // if I am holding hands with another avatar, a force is applied
+                    if (( _handState == 1 ) ||  ( _interactingOther->_handState == 1 )) {
+                        glm::vec3 vectorToOtherHand = _interactingOther->_handPosition - _handHoldingPosition;
+                        glm::vec3 vectorToMyHand = _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position - _handHoldingPosition;
+                        _handHoldingPosition += vectorToOtherHand * YOUR_HAND_HOLDING_PULL;
+                        _handHoldingPosition += vectorToMyHand    * MY_HAND_HOLDING_PULL;
+                        _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position = _handHoldingPosition;
+                    }
+
+                    _avatarTouch.setYourHandPosition( _interactingOther->_handPosition );
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -370,8 +359,13 @@ void Avatar::simulate(float deltaTime) {
         
     }//if ( _isMine )
     
+    //constrain right arm length and re-adjust elbow position as it bends
     updateArmIKAndConstraints( deltaTime );
     
+    if (_isMine) {
+        _avatarTouch.setMyHandPosition( _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position );
+    }
+    
     if (!_interactingOtherIsNearby) {
         _interactingOther = NULL;
     }
@@ -545,21 +539,23 @@ void Avatar::updateCollisionWithSphere( glm::vec3 position, float radius, float
     float distanceToBigSphere = glm::length(vectorFromMyBodyToBigSphere);
     if ( distanceToBigSphere < myBodyApproximateBoundingRadius + radius ) {
         for (int b = 0; b < NUM_AVATAR_BONES; b++) {
-            glm::vec3 vectorFromJointToBigSphereCenter(_bone[b].springyPosition - position);
-            float distanceToBigSphereCenter = glm::length(vectorFromJointToBigSphereCenter);
-            float combinedRadius = _bone[b].radius + radius;
-            
-            if ( distanceToBigSphereCenter < combinedRadius )  {
-                jointCollision = true;
-                if (distanceToBigSphereCenter > 0.0) {
-                    glm::vec3 directionVector = vectorFromJointToBigSphereCenter / distanceToBigSphereCenter;
-                    
-                    float penetration = 1.0 - (distanceToBigSphereCenter / combinedRadius);
-                    glm::vec3 collisionForce = vectorFromJointToBigSphereCenter * penetration;
-                    
-                    _bone[b].springyVelocity += collisionForce *  30.0f * deltaTime;
-                    _velocity                += collisionForce * 100.0f * deltaTime;
-                    _bone[b].springyPosition = position + directionVector * combinedRadius;
+            if ( _bone[b].isCollidable ) {
+                glm::vec3 vectorFromJointToBigSphereCenter(_bone[b].springyPosition - position);
+                float distanceToBigSphereCenter = glm::length(vectorFromJointToBigSphereCenter);
+                float combinedRadius = _bone[b].radius + radius;
+                
+                if ( distanceToBigSphereCenter < combinedRadius )  {
+                    jointCollision = true;
+                    if (distanceToBigSphereCenter > 0.0) {
+                        glm::vec3 directionVector = vectorFromJointToBigSphereCenter / distanceToBigSphereCenter;
+                        
+                        float penetration = 1.0 - (distanceToBigSphereCenter / combinedRadius);
+                        glm::vec3 collisionForce = vectorFromJointToBigSphereCenter * penetration;
+                        
+                        _bone[b].springyVelocity += collisionForce *  30.0f * deltaTime;
+                        _velocity                += collisionForce * 100.0f * deltaTime;
+                        _bone[b].springyPosition = position + directionVector * combinedRadius;
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -583,27 +579,32 @@ void Avatar::updateCollisionWithOtherAvatar( Avatar * otherAvatar, float deltaTi
         
         // loop through the bones of each avatar to check for every possible collision
         for (int b=1; b<NUM_AVATAR_BONES; b++) {
-            for (int o=b+1; o<NUM_AVATAR_BONES; o++) {
+            if ( _bone[b].isCollidable ) {
+
+                for (int o=b+1; o<NUM_AVATAR_BONES; o++) {
+                    if ( _bone[o].isCollidable ) {
+                    
+                        glm::vec3 vectorBetweenJoints(_bone[b].springyPosition - otherAvatar->_bone[o].springyPosition);
+                        float distanceBetweenJoints = glm::length(vectorBetweenJoints);
             
-                glm::vec3 vectorBetweenJoints(_bone[b].springyPosition - otherAvatar->_bone[o].springyPosition);
-                float distanceBetweenJoints = glm::length(vectorBetweenJoints);
-    
-                // to avoid divide by zero
-                if ( distanceBetweenJoints > 0.0 ) {
-                    float combinedRadius = _bone[b].radius + otherAvatar->_bone[o].radius;
+                        // to avoid divide by zero
+                        if ( distanceBetweenJoints > 0.0 ) {
+                            float combinedRadius = _bone[b].radius + otherAvatar->_bone[o].radius;
 
-                    // check for collision
-                    if ( distanceBetweenJoints < combinedRadius * COLLISION_RADIUS_SCALAR)  {
-                        glm::vec3 directionVector = vectorBetweenJoints / distanceBetweenJoints;
+                            // check for collision
+                            if ( distanceBetweenJoints < combinedRadius * COLLISION_RADIUS_SCALAR)  {
+                                glm::vec3 directionVector = vectorBetweenJoints / distanceBetweenJoints;
 
-                        // push ball away from colliding other ball and puch avatar body (_velocity) as well
-                        _bone[b].springyVelocity += directionVector * COLLISION_BALL_FORCE * deltaTime;
-                        _velocity                += directionVector * COLLISION_BODY_FORCE * deltaTime;
-                        
-                        // apply fruction to _velocity
-                        float momentum = 1.0 - COLLISION_FRICTION  * deltaTime;
-                        if ( momentum < 0.0 ) { momentum = 0.0;}
-                        _velocity *= momentum;
+                                // push ball away from colliding other ball and puch avatar body (_velocity) as well
+                                _bone[b].springyVelocity += directionVector * COLLISION_BALL_FORCE * deltaTime;
+                                _velocity                += directionVector * COLLISION_BODY_FORCE * deltaTime;
+                                
+                                // apply fruction to _velocity
+                                float momentum = 1.0 - COLLISION_FRICTION  * deltaTime;
+                                if ( momentum < 0.0 ) { momentum = 0.0;}
+                                _velocity *= momentum;
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -867,19 +868,6 @@ void Avatar::renderHead(bool lookingInMirror) {
     glPopMatrix();
  }
 
-
-void Avatar::startHandMovement() {
-    
-    if (!_usingBodySprings) {
-        initializeBodySprings();
-        _usingBodySprings = true;
-    }
-}
-
-void Avatar::stopHandMovement() {
-    //_usingBodySprings = false;
-}
-
 void Avatar::setHandMovementValues( glm::vec3 handOffset ) {
 	_movedHandOffset = handOffset;
 }
@@ -891,6 +879,7 @@ AvatarMode Avatar::getMode() {
 void Avatar::initializeSkeleton() {
     
 	for (int b=0; b<NUM_AVATAR_BONES; b++) {
+        _bone[b].isCollidable        = true;
         _bone[b].parent              = AVATAR_BONE_NULL;
         _bone[b].position			 = glm::vec3( 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 );
         _bone[b].defaultPosePosition = glm::vec3( 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 );
@@ -906,9 +895,7 @@ void Avatar::initializeSkeleton() {
         _bone[b].orientation.setToIdentity();
 	}
     
-	//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-	// parental hierarchy
-	//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+	// specify the parental hierarchy
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_PELVIS_SPINE		].parent = AVATAR_BONE_NULL;
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_MID_SPINE        ].parent = AVATAR_BONE_PELVIS_SPINE;
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_CHEST_SPINE		].parent = AVATAR_BONE_MID_SPINE;
@@ -958,7 +945,7 @@ void Avatar::initializeSkeleton() {
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_SHIN		].defaultPosePosition = glm::vec3(  0.0,  -0.15,  0.0  );
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_FOOT		].defaultPosePosition = glm::vec3(  0.0,   0.0,   0.04 );
     
-    
+	// specify the radii of the bone positions
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_PELVIS_SPINE		].radius = 0.05;
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_MID_SPINE		].radius = 0.06;
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_CHEST_SPINE		].radius = 0.03;
@@ -982,7 +969,12 @@ void Avatar::initializeSkeleton() {
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_THIGH		].radius = 0.02;
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_SHIN		].radius = 0.015;
 	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_FOOT		].radius = 0.02;
-    
+
+	// to aid in hand-shaking and hand-holding, the right hand is not collidable
+	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_UPPER_ARM	].isCollidable = false;
+	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_FOREARM	].isCollidable = false;
+	_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND		].isCollidable = false; 
+       
 	// calculate bone length
 	calculateBoneLengths();
     
@@ -1135,7 +1127,7 @@ void Avatar::updateArmIKAndConstraints( float deltaTime ) {
 	// test to see if right hand is being dragged beyond maximum arm length
 	float distance = glm::length( armVector );
 	
-	// if right hand is being dragged beyond maximum arm length...
+	// don't let right hand get dragged beyond maximum arm length...
 	if ( distance > _maxArmLength ) {
 		// reset right hand to be constrained to maximum arm length
 		_bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_HAND ].position = _bone[ AVATAR_BONE_RIGHT_SHOULDER ].position;
diff --git a/interface/src/Avatar.h b/interface/src/Avatar.h
index 08d3977d90..8f5a7fe41d 100644
--- a/interface/src/Avatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/Avatar.h
@@ -36,10 +36,11 @@ const float COLLISION_RADIUS_SCALAR = 1.8;
 const float COLLISION_BALL_FORCE    = 0.1;
 const float COLLISION_BODY_FORCE    = 3.0;
 
+const float MY_HAND_HOLDING_PULL = 0.2;
+const float YOUR_HAND_HOLDING_PULL = 1.0;
+
 enum eyeContactTargets {LEFT_EYE, RIGHT_EYE, MOUTH};
 
-
-
 enum DriveKeys
 {
     FWD = 0,
@@ -107,18 +108,10 @@ enum AvatarBoneID
 	NUM_AVATAR_BONES
 };
 
-
-struct AvatarHandHolding //think of this as one half of a distributed spring :)
-{
-    glm::vec3 position;
-    glm::vec3 velocity;
-    float     force;
-};
-
 struct AvatarBone
 {
 	AvatarBoneID parent;				// which bone is this bone connected to?
-	glm::vec3	 position;				// the position at the "end" of the bone
+	glm::vec3	 position;				// the position at the "end" of the bone - in global space
 	glm::vec3	 defaultPosePosition;	// the parent relative position when the avatar is in the "T-pose"
 	glm::vec3	 springyPosition;		// used for special effects (a 'flexible' variant of position)
 	glm::vec3	 springyVelocity;		// used for special effects ( the velocity of the springy position)
@@ -130,6 +123,7 @@ struct AvatarBone
 	Orientation	 orientation;			// three orthogonal normals determined by yaw, pitch, roll
 	float		 length;				// the length of the bone
 	float		 radius;                // used for detecting collisions for certain physical effects
+	bool		 isCollidable;          // when false, the bone position will not register a collision
 };
 
 struct AvatarHead
@@ -215,8 +209,6 @@ public:
     void renderBody();
     void renderHead(bool lookingInMirror);
     void simulate(float);
-    void startHandMovement();
-    void stopHandMovement();
     void setHandMovementValues( glm::vec3 movement );
     void updateHandMovement( float deltaTime );
     void updateArmIKAndConstraints( float deltaTime );
@@ -257,7 +249,7 @@ private:
     glm::quat         _rotation; // the rotation of the avatar body as a whole expressed as a quaternion
     AvatarBone	      _bone[ NUM_AVATAR_BONES ];
     AvatarMode        _mode;
-    AvatarHandHolding _handHolding;
+    glm::vec3         _handHoldingPosition;
     glm::vec3         _velocity;
     glm::vec3	      _thrust;
     float             _speed;
diff --git a/interface/src/AvatarTouch.cpp b/interface/src/AvatarTouch.cpp
index bd99cecd2b..ad4f0ccf33 100644
--- a/interface/src/AvatarTouch.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/AvatarTouch.cpp
@@ -3,41 +3,61 @@
 //  interface
 //
 //  Created by Jeffrey Ventrella
-//  Copyright (c) 2012 High Fidelity, Inc. All rights reserved.
+//  Copyright (c) 2013 High Fidelity, Inc. All rights reserved.
 //
-
 #include <iostream>
 #include <glm/glm.hpp>
+#include <SharedUtil.h>
 #include "AvatarTouch.h"
 #include "InterfaceConfig.h"
 
+
 AvatarTouch::AvatarTouch() {
 
     _myHandPosition   = glm::vec3( 0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f );
     _yourHandPosition = glm::vec3( 0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f );
+    
+    for (int p=0; p<NUM_POINTS; p++) {
+        _point[p] = glm::vec3( 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 );
+    }
 }
 
 void AvatarTouch::setMyHandPosition( glm::vec3 position ) {
     _myHandPosition = position;
 }
 
-void AvatarTouch::setYourPosition( glm::vec3 position ) {
+void AvatarTouch::setYourHandPosition( glm::vec3 position ) {
     _yourHandPosition = position;
 }
 
-
 void AvatarTouch::render() {
 
     glm::vec3 v1( _myHandPosition );
     glm::vec3 v2( _yourHandPosition );
     
-    glLineWidth( 8.0 );
-    glColor4f( 0.7f, 0.4f, 0.1f, 0.6 );
+    glLineWidth( 2.0 );
+    glColor4f( 0.7f, 0.4f, 0.1f, 0.3 );
     glBegin( GL_LINE_STRIP );
     glVertex3f( v1.x, v1.y, v1.z );
     glVertex3f( v2.x, v2.y, v2.z );
     glEnd();
+
+    glColor4f( 1.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f, 0.8 );
+
+    for (int p=0; p<NUM_POINTS; p++) {
+        glBegin(GL_POINTS);
+        glVertex3f(_point[p].x, _point[p].y, _point[p].z);
+        glEnd();
+    }    
 }
 
 void AvatarTouch::simulate (float deltaTime) {
+
+    glm::vec3 v = _yourHandPosition - _myHandPosition;
+    for (int p=0; p<NUM_POINTS; p++) {
+        _point[p] = _myHandPosition + v * ( (float)p / (float)NUM_POINTS );
+        _point[p].x += randFloatInRange( -0.007, 0.007 );
+        _point[p].y += randFloatInRange( -0.007, 0.007 );
+        _point[p].z += randFloatInRange( -0.007, 0.007 );
+    }
  }
diff --git a/interface/src/AvatarTouch.h b/interface/src/AvatarTouch.h
index 8371ea3a19..3c7a58a2b5 100644
--- a/interface/src/AvatarTouch.h
+++ b/interface/src/AvatarTouch.h
@@ -15,12 +15,16 @@ class AvatarTouch {
 public:
     AvatarTouch();
     
-    void setMyHandPosition( glm::vec3 position );
-    void setYourPosition  ( glm::vec3 position );
+    void setMyHandPosition  ( glm::vec3 position );
+    void setYourHandPosition( glm::vec3 position );
     void simulate(float deltaTime);
     void render();
     
 private:
+
+    static const int NUM_POINTS = 100;
+    
+    glm::vec3 _point [NUM_POINTS];
     glm::vec3 _myHandPosition;
     glm::vec3 _yourHandPosition;
 };
diff --git a/interface/src/main.cpp b/interface/src/main.cpp
index 27eb296784..26cdd2df11 100644
--- a/interface/src/main.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/main.cpp
@@ -1464,8 +1464,7 @@ void idle(void) {
 		// tell my avatar if the mouse is being pressed...
 		if ( mousePressed == 1 ) {
 			myAvatar.setMousePressed( true );
-		}
-		else {
+		} else {
 			myAvatar.setMousePressed( false );
 		}
         
@@ -1484,7 +1483,7 @@ void idle(void) {
             networkReceive(0);
 		}
 		
-        //loop through all the other avatars and simulate them...
+        //loop through all the remote avatars and simulate them...
         AgentList* agentList = AgentList::getInstance();
         for(AgentList::iterator agent = agentList->begin(); agent != agentList->end(); agent++) {
             if (agent->getLinkedData() != NULL) {