Dive Brief:

In spite of the drawbacks of teaching the subject online, a Stanford University professor has created a massive open online course on haptics — the science of touch.

The professor, Allison Okamura, also offers students of the MOOC a way to receive “hands-on” haptics experiences through a programmable sensory device called the Hapkit, eCampus News reported.

Students can assemble their own Hapkit from electronic components that cost $50 to $100.

Dive Insight:

The Hapkit allows the user to program and experience virtual sensations that seem real. According to eCampus News, the haptics MOOC is a major advance in showing what can be taught online, and haptics could be incorporated into courses in the fields of telesurgery and robotics, for example. Because the Hapkit can simulate any physical environment, the new MOOC could help advance an understanding of how to make virtual classes seem more realistic and immersive for the student.