At Northwestern University, researchers have presented a technology that makes it possible to feel the texture of virtual objects on a screen. The development, called VoxeLite, is a flexible latex film with micro-nodes worn on the finger. When it touches a touchscreen, it creates electrostatic forces that alter friction and pressure on the skin, thereby mimicking the sensation of touching different materials.
Participants who used VoxeLite were able to recognize virtual textures and patterns with up to 87% accuracy. This is especially significant for people with visual impairments: it gives them the ability to use a smartphone, navigate interfaces, make purchases, and “feel” objects in online spaces. VoxeLite can also be used in gaming, education, automotive interfaces, and virtual museums.
The device is compatible with modern gadgets and does not interfere with movement. The developers plan to create a wireless version and scale it to multiple fingers. VoxeLite is a step toward a new reality in which screens become tactile portals into the digital world.
