New device ?
Can love be stopped, no matter the distance? Letters once bridged that gap, followed by the telegraph, telephone, mobile phones, and the internet—what next? Even with the advent of video calls, people’s emotional needs haven’t been fully satisfied. Now, scientists are working on a new device that will allow you to experience the sensation of holding a loved one’s hand, even from thousands of miles away.
This new device enables the feeling of touch from a distance, designed specifically to simulate the sensation of finger contact. With this innovation, you can experience the feeling of physically connecting with someone far away, giving a real sense of touch even across continents.
The sensation of touch, one of the most complex human experiences, has long been a challenge to replicate in technology. A new device is being developed as part of ongoing research into this field. By using a technique called “Bioinspired Haptic,” scientists are mimicking the four touch receptors, or sensory proteins, found in human fingers through motion and energy vibrations. They envision creating a glove, or mechanical apparatus, that can simulate real hand-holding and social interactions remotely. The device works by stimulating nerve cells, mimicking the natural touch with lifelike sensitivity.
A study published in Nature Communications confirms the effectiveness of this technology. With it, you could feel the sensation of holding someone’s hand from London to Sydney. Moreover, experts suggest that the device could be a powerful diagnostic tool, potentially assisting with conditions like metacarpal tunnel syndrome or complications from diabetes. It also has applications in remote healthcare, where surgeons may be able to distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissues using this device. In the coming months, clinical trials are expected to begin with 10 patients who have lost their sense of touch.
Sara Abad, a scientist at University College London, commented: “The sense of touch is the least understood of all our senses due to its complexity. Bioinspired haptic systems work by stimulating nerve cells, which respond to touch through vibrations. Skin, the largest organ of our body, provides different types of information. We sense stimuli through the skin, and this device allows people to feel the touch of family members in distant cities.”
New Device While video calls allow us to see and hear others, they lack one essential element: touch. Social bonding also requires physical interaction, something video calls alone can’t provide. This new technology brings the sensation of touch into social interactions in a virtual format. It could also serve as a diagnostic tool for individuals facing sensory issues. The technology was recently demonstrated at the British Science Festival held at the University of East London. Scientist Helge Wardemann remarked, “We believe gloves designed with this technology could revolutionize remote touch experiences.”
Read: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4s31GeoZRo