New Fingertip Device Mimics Real-Life Touch for Remote Interactions

Developed by UCL researchers, the BAMH system offers potential applications in healthcare, social bonding, and hazardous material handling.

The BAMH system uses vibrations to stimulate four key touch receptors in the skin, providing a realistic sense of touch.
Potential healthcare applications include diagnosing loss of touch sensitivity and improving robotic surgery techniques.
The device could enable remote tactile interactions, such as hand-holding, enhancing social bonding for people separated by distance.
Researchers are preparing clinical trials to study the device's effectiveness in diagnosing and tracking the progression of touch sensitivity loss.
Future advancements may include scaling the technology to full-hand gloves for more comprehensive applications in various fields.