Electric Fingertip Stimulators Provide Virtual Sensations For Make-Believe Objects

Imagine that, apart from viewing the contents of your PC screen, you could actually experience them by making use of an electronic exoskin. Sounds too good to be true? Well, the researchers at the Illinois University may draw your attention regarding the same issue, where John Rogers and team have come up with devices called "electrotactile stimulators" which apparently convert electrical signals into feelings of touch. For achieving this, the researchers had to impress a flexible circuit on a flexible finger-like tube. Once the tube is overturned inside-out, the circuit goes inside the tube so as to make contact with the skin, and the stimulator does well enough to deceive your finger into sensing artificial sensations from the computer/external sensor.

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This device could very well assist the visually challenged people all over the world, and by carrying out tests with current flowing on various frequencies via the stimulator, the scientists could control the sensations experienced by the test subjects. If this technology is further improved, it opens up a host of applications from remote surgery to video games.

Via: Scientists create electric fingertip stimulators to make you feel things that aren't there - The Verge