LONDON, SEPT 12 – Scientists from University College London (UCL) have developed a fingertip device that can mimic human touch, and may one day allow people living far apart to ‘virtually touch’, German news agency reported. dpa.
A tool known as BAMH (innovative bioinspired haptic system) that works by stimulating nerve cells that respond to touch using vibrations, providing a sensation almost identical to real touch.
The technology is also expected to help in the medical field, especially for patients who have lost their sense of touch due to diseases such as metacarpal tunnel syndrome or diabetes. UCL roboticist Dr Sara Abad said that skin provides a lot of information about the object being touched, such as texture and vibration, and this technology could add tactile elements to virtual social interactions, such as shaking hands over video calls.
The tool could also potentially be used in robotic surgery, with doctors able to assess the type of tissue encountered, to determine if it is cancerous.
In addition to the healthcare field, they say more advanced versions of these devices, including gloves that can provide ‘full sensation in the hand’, could help in managing nuclear waste, when large robots are often used to operate in dangerous areas.
“If you have to open radioactive material, a realistic sense of touch may be important to separate the different components,” said Prof Wurdemann. – Named
