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Touch Enabled In Virtual Reality With This New Skin Machine!

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Imagine being able to touch the coldness of winter, or the heat of a warm coffee cup in your hand, while immersed in a virtual world. With this technology, you could soon enjoy such an experience. You’ll even be able to feel the pressure of a hand holding yours through a message chat, or the blow of a punch in a combat video game.

Scientists have created a device that enables people to experience the sensation of touch in the realm of virtual reality. It is described as “skin-integrated wireless haptic interfaces for virtual and augmented reality” and consists of a lightweight and soft sheet of electronics that adhere to the body. To simulate the sense of touch it uses a combination of vibration, pressure, and motion. Their project has been published in the journal Nature.

Skin machine enables sense of touch in VR
Credit: Quelle, Northwestern University

This breakthrough system could have profound implications in the realms of prosthetics and video games. It has the potential to transform the life of amputees and bring gaming to another level.

The researchers write:

The whole process is very complex. The sense of touch is a collection of several sensations, encompassing pressure, pain, and temperature. Until now, it has been a great challenge to incorporate sensations of touch into virtual and augmented reality.

 

In comparison to the eyes and the ears, the skin is a relatively underexplored sensory interface for VR and AR technology that could, nevertheless, greatly enhance experiences at a qualitative level, with direct relevance in areas such as communication, entertainment, and medicine.

The technology is applicable in various situations. Someone with a prosthetic hand could feel the shape of an object they are holding. A loved one could transmit a touch on the cheek via social media. While watching a movie, wind could brush over the skin during a high-speed chase on a motorcycle.

Skin machine enables sense of touch in VR
Credit: Unsplash

Virtual reality hasn’t become prolific yet, still a relatively niche technology. Most of its users are a small portion of gamers and engineers designing industrial applications. With technology like this becoming available, the likelihood that virtual and augmented reality will become more popular increases.

Jeremy Dalton, head of VR and AR at PwC, said:

VR and AR are finally coming of age and have the potential to provide a significant boost to the UK economy. They will also improve the way organizations operate, make processes faster and more effective, and create incredible new experiences.

According to estimates from PwC, VR and AR are forecasted to contribute £62.5 billion to the UK economy and £1.4 trillion to the global economy by 2030. As technologies hit the market, such as this skin machine, people are able to experience more sensation in the virtual world. All that’s left from there is smell and taste!

The post Touch Enabled In Virtual Reality With This New Skin Machine! appeared first on Intelligent Living.


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