VR system gives sense of touch to video calls

This is the claim of the joint-research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Northwestern University, whose system, which is controlled and powered wirelessly, could be applied in communications, prosthetic control and rehabilitation, as well as gaming.

Despite being the largest organ of the body, skin is a relatively under-explored sensory interface for VR or augmented reality (AR) technology. According to CityU, current VR and AR devices usually rely on vibratory actuation imparted to the skin by electrical motors, but these systems are limited as they involve wires and battery packs attached to the body.

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Dr Yu Xinge, Assistant Professor, Dr Xie Zhaoqian, Senior Research Fellow of Department of Biomedical Engineering at CityU and their team, along with colleagues at Northwestern University, plus collaborators from research institutes and companies in US and China, have developed an integrated skin VR system which can receive commands wirelessly, and then simulate the "touch" with vibration. The user can feel the touch by putting a thin, soft and adhesive device on the skin. The research findings have been published in Nature.