The WeTac hand patch is a device that allows people to feel touch sensations in virtual reality. It contains hydrogel, a polymer material that can hold lots of water and keep its shape. In addition, the patch has “ultra-thin” features made of hydrogel that collect information about touch sensations and provide tactile feedback in the virtual environment.
This technology by researchers at the City University of Hong Kong makes virtual reality more immersive by adding a sense of touch to the existing gear.
The Technology Behind WeTac
The WeTac is worn on the hand like a glove and has soft, skin-like features that collect data about touch to provide a realistic touch experience in the virtual world. In addition, it is wireless and has programmable feedback patterns on the hand, with 32 electrotactile stimulation pixels on the palm rather than just the fingertips.
WeTac delivers programmable haptic feedback patterns to a user’s hand. It consists of electrodes placed on the palm and miniaturized electronic components that serve as the device’s control panel. The tactile device can produce detailed tactile sensations through the hand using electrotactile simulation pixels. In addition, the device has a high pixel density, allowing it to provide flexible tactile stimulation and measure the sensation thresholds of individual users.
One notable advantage of WeTac is that it covers the entire hand rather than just one or more fingertips. It also has ultrasoft components that can map threshold currents for personalized haptic feedback, avoiding pain for the user. Initial tests of the device have shown promising results, with the potential for integration with virtual and augmented reality systems soon.
Applications of WeTac
The glove has the potential to be used in a range of applications, including remote control of robots and sensory regain from prosthetics. Other potential uses for this system include gaming, sports and skills training, and social activities.
For example, the system could enhance the realism of virtual sports training by allowing users to feel the sensation of catching a ball or hitting a bat. In terms of gaming, the glove could provide a more immersive experience by letting users feel virtual objects and interact with them more realistically.
In addition, the glove can enhance social activities by allowing users to feel virtual things in a shared virtual space. For example, users could virtually touch and feel pets and interact in myriad ways, such as giving or receiving virtual gifts or virtual objects in an art exhibit.
In summary, WeTac is a device that delivers programmable haptic feedback patterns to a user’s hand, potentially allowing for more immersive and realistic virtual experiences. However, some critics argue that haptic technologies like WeTac may only partially meet the immersive needs of users, as the gap between reality and simulation can create a negative experience.
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