A team of researchers from the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has introduced ‘WeTac,’ which is a thin, wearable electronic skin that can provide tactile feedback to users in AR and VR environments. Â
This wireless electro-tactile system uses a skin-friendly hydrogel layer that sticks onto the palm of the hand and collects personalized tactile sensing data to bring a more realistic virtual touch experience to the metaverse.
The WeTac system developed by CityU consists of two parts: a palm patch with hydrogel electrodes as a tactile interface and a tiny flexible actuator that acts as a control panel. The whole actuator weighs only 19.2 grams and is small enough to be worn on one’s forearm.
Read More: Zhejiang, Among Other Chinese Provinces, To Build A US$28.7b Industry Metaverse By 2025
It also has Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and a tiny rechargeable lithium-ion battery for wireless transmission and power. The thickness of the palm patch is a mere 220 microns to 1 mm, and the electrodes reach from the palm to the fingertips.
Through this, users will be able to experience objects in virtual scenarios, such as grasping a tennis ball during sports practice or touching a cactus in virtual social networks or games.
Although this is being designed for the virtual worlds within the Metaverse, there’s virtually an infinite number of possibilities that can become of “WeTac” technology in the real world.