There are many hurdles virtual reality needs to overcome before we start getting experiences on a par with the holodeck from Star Trek. One of those hurdles is feedback and the ability to experience a virtual world through touch. A research team in Switzerland believes it has the answer, though, and a glove to prove it.

As ETHZ reports, a research team from EPFL in Lausanne and ETH in Zurich have developed a very lightweight haptic feedback glove. Weighing in at just 40 grams (8 grams per finger), the glove allows the wearer to touch and hold virtual objects.

Sensitivity is high enough (up to 40 Newtons of resistance per finger) that the glove can simulate holding a hard object such as a coffee cup right down to a soft object such as a sponge. As the glove only uses 200 Volts and a few milliwatts of power to function, it will be possible to provide power via a small battery.

It's important to remember this is just a prototype unit, meaning there's a lot of scope to miniaturize the different components and hide the wires inside the glove material. The final version could quite simply look like a standard glove.

The simulation of touch is achieved using two flexible metal strips separated by a thin insulator placed on the top of each finger and integrated into a cotton glove. The strips can slide against each other allowing free movement by the wearer. However, applying a voltage adds resistance to the point where it can stop a finger from being able to move. The wearer experiences believable touch, allowing them to hold and accurately manipulate virtual objects.

As the system used is so simple, lightweight, and low power, the research team is aiming to continue development until they have a full body suit. If successful, virtual reality environments will become a much more realistic experience by wearing a tight-fitting suit with an integrated battery.

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