An international team of researchers, including Claudio Pacchierotti, a CNRS researcher within the Rainbow research team, published a review in Nature Reviews Bioengineering on the current state of wearable multi-sensory haptic devices.
Since their emergence in the 1960s, haptic devices — which enable communication through touch — have evolved significantly. Initially based on rigid, stationary mechanisms that generated force feedback, advances in sensing and actuation technologies have made these systems increasingly portable.
Today, multisensory haptic devices integrate various forms of tactile feedback, such as vibrations, pressure, skin stretch, and temperature changes. These innovations are opening up new possibilities for interaction with both digital and physical environments, particularly in fields such as virtual and augmented reality, medical care, and rehabilitation.
However, designing such devices presents many challenges. Tactile perception varies depending on the area of the body, making it difficult to create universally effective systems. Furthermore, ensuring that these devices are comfortable and ergonomically designed remains a major concern. The publication highlights both the promising opportunities offered by these technologies and the technical hurdles that must be addressed, while also outlining potential directions for future research.
To read more
Picture ©Wearable haptic device locations Credit: Nature Reviews Bioengineering (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44222-025-00