Patch That Allows You To “Feel” Textures Through The Screen Created

Credit: Sylvia Tan / Northwestern University

Engineers from Northwestern University have developed the first haptic (tactile) interface that achieves a resolution comparable to the human sense of touch. An ultra-thin wearable device called VoxeLite recreates tactile sensations with the clarity of a human fingertip. The authors envision it as a comfortable, fingertip-wrapped interface that could transform how people interact with digital environments.

A flexible, film-based haptic device that wraps around the user’s finger and features small protrusions on the outside is called VoxeLite. It could be useful for people with visual impairments, as it will allow them to more easily interact with touchscreens on various devices.

Essentially, VoxeLite is a thin, elastic latex patch with several rubber protrusions that cover the fingertip and can apply precise, high-speed pressure to the skin. Each protrusion has a conductive outer layer and an electrode inside.

At the physical level, the conductive layer interacts with the surface and generates electrostatic signals, which is what causes the device to act on the fingertip. By modulating the voltage applied to the ridges, VoxeLite can create varying friction, simulating the sensation of touch on rough and slippery surfaces. Because the ridges are spaced just over 1 mm apart, the device can accurately reproduce tactile signals that match the sensitivity of the human sense of touch. This means the simulated sensations will feel as real as touching physical objects.

The authors believe VoxeLite could be used with phones or tablets. In the future, such devices could allow shoppers to feel objects in online stores or provide tactile maps for the visually impaired.

The team is currently studying how people perceive these signals in order to further improve the device and expand its functionality.