Why this matters

The thin, flexible device gently adheres to the skin, providing more realistic and immersive sensory experiences. Although the new device obviously lends itself to gaming and virtual reality (VR), the researchers also envision applications in healthcare. For example, the device could help people with visual impairments “feel” their surroundings or give feedback to people with prosthetic limbs.

Building on ‘epidermal VR’

The device is the latest advance in wearable technology from Northwestern bioelectronics pioneer John A. Rogers. The new study, published in the journal Nature, builds on work published in 2019 in which his team introduced “epidermal VR,” a skin-interfaced system that communicates touch through an array of miniature vibrating actuators across large areas of the skin, with fast wireless control.