Researchers at the University of South Carolina (USC) have developed a wearable system that uses haptic technology to add accurate touch sensations in VR applications.
The team from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering developed a wearable haptic system that allows users to exchange physical gestures in VR and feel them in real time, using gloves and sleeves outfitted with small vibration motors that simulate sensations including pressure and movement.
This system allows users to perform and feel gestures including pats, handshakes and squeezes within a shared virtual space, allowing users to interact with virtual objects and receive realistic vibration feedback.
In a user study, published with the IEEE World Haptics Conference, participants found virtual interactions to be more engaging, pleasant, and realistic when gestures could be felt.
The system supports up to 16 users simultaneously, with each user represented by a full-body 3D avatar that mirrors real-world movements inside a shared virtual environment. Users can move freely around one another and interact with virtual objects in the world, including passing a cup or completing a team task. The gloves and armbands worn by users are equipped with vibration motors, providing tactile feedback that simulates both pressure and motion.
Premankur Banerjee, doctoral student and first author of the study, USC, commented: “This project was born from a simple, deeply human desire: to feel closer to the people we miss. Having spent over five years away from my own loved ones, this research was more than academic — it was personal.
“It’s about using technology not just to simulate presence, but to restore a sense of physical closeness that’s often lost in long-distance communication.”
Main photo credit: Premankur Banerjee