A team at the City University of Hong Kong have developed a soft, ultrathin, miniaturised and wireless system (called WeTac) that delivers current through the hand to induce tactile sensations as the skin-integrated haptic interface.
With a relatively high pixel density over the whole hand area, the WeTac can provide tactile stimulation and measure the sensation thresholds of users in a flexible way.
By mapping the thresholds for different electrical parameters, personalized threshold data can be acquired to reproduce virtual touching sensations on the hand with optimized stimulation intensity and avoid causing pain.
With an accurate control of sensation level, temporal and spatial perception, it allows providing personalized feedback when users interact with virtual objects. This technique is promising for a more vivid touching experience in the virtual world and in human–machine interactions.