A team of scientists from the City University of Hong Kong (Cityu) has made an exciting breakthrough in the field of interactive tactile communication. They have recently developed wireless, soft e-leather This not only has the ability to sense touch, but also to convey a feeling of touch. It can also create a touch network that allows the user to interact with several other people at the same time. Such development opens up great opportunities to improve interactive tactile communication.
According to Dr. Yu Xinger, an associate professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering (BME) in Cityu, along with the rapid development of virtual and extended reality (VR and AR), visual and auditory experiences are no longer enough to create engaging experiences. Sensory communication can become a revolution of interaction throughout Metaverse.
While the modern market can offer many examples of interfaces that simulate touch sensations in the virtual world, generally ensure only touch detection or touch feedback. However, the e-shop developed by city researchers can perform the functions of self-sufficient and tactile reproduction on the same interface. This unique characteristics allow you to achieve two -way touch transmission.
Kinka E contains 16 flexible actuators arranged in a 4 x 4 table, a microcontroller unit (MCU), Bluetooth module and other electronics on a flexible circuit plate. The actuator generates electricity after pressing, providing electrical signals for tactile sensations for the appropriate actuator located on another e-leather sample. The stronger the user presses, the brighter and longer is the creation on the second electronic skin.
The electrical signal generated by the cylinders is converted in a digital signal using an analog-digit converter. After receiving the signal, the current is induced to reproduce the touch feedback on the skin of the recipient through mechanical vibrations.
Although each actuator can perform only one task at the same time, the rest of 15 cylinders on an electronic skin spot can complement each other and perform the function of perception or touchbag, while allowing to achieve two -way tactile transmission.
Dr. Yu notes that their e-china can communicate with Bluetooth devices and send data via the Internet using smartphones and computers to perform a touch transmission of very long distances. It can also create an Internet of Things (IoT) touchdown, enabling one -to -one and one to multiple touchdown. Friends and family in various places could use it to “feel” each other, overcome the restrictions of space and significantly reducing the sense of distance in human communication.
