Engineers from ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) have developed a telehaptic device that remotely transmits haptic feedback in real time using stickers attached to fingers. It was designed to provide greater immersion for AR and VR applications in the metaverse by allowing users to remotely sense objects. The team claims that the technology can remotely provide the feel and texture of metal, plastic and rubber at a range of up to 15 meters.

Engineers used a piezoelectric element and an ultra-thin flexible substrate to embed microscopic sensors and actuators smaller than 1mm into the substrate. The substrate itself is thin and flexible and is 1/20th of a human hair thick, making it ideal for adhering to the skin. The piezoelectric element can detect the…