Virtual Touch

A soft, silicon “skin” embedded with sensors, actuators and wireless communication could someday add the sense of touch to virtual reality (VR) systems. Known as “epidermal VR” the platform adds a whole new dimension to long-distance communication and entertainment, and could even provide sensory feedback for people who wear prosthetics.

The 15-by-15-centimeter prototype sheets adhere to the skin without the need for tape or straps and conform easily to curved surfaces. Inductor charging also eliminates the need for bulky batteries or wires. An array of 32 actuators resonate at 200 cycles per second – a level at which human skin is highly sensitive – and as they vibrate, they produce the sensation of touch for the wearer.

The technology could enable a parent to hug their child while video chatting, or allow video gamers to feel when they get hit during play. VR users would be able to touch objects in the virtual world, and wearers of prosthetic arms could get a better sense of the shape of objects as they hold them.