“Revolutionizing Virtual Reality: Smart Textiles Bring Tactile Sensations to Remote Interactions

Smart textiles are revolutionizing virtual reality, allowing users to experience tactile sensations and making remote interactions more immersive. Through an ultrathin film capable of transmitting touch, textiles can mimic the feeling of physical contact, offering innovative solutions for various applications.
For children facing serious illnesses and confined to hospital isolation wards, this technology provides a lifeline by enabling them to feel the presence of their loved ones during virtual visits. The interdisciplinary team behind the “Multi-Immerse” project, comprising researchers from Saarland University, htw Saar University of Applied Sciences, ZeMA, and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), is at the forefront of this groundbreaking endeavor.
The project focuses on creating multi-sensory virtual encounters that simulate physical closeness between individuals. Led by Professors Stefan Selleck and Paul Motzki, the research team aims to develop technology that replicates realistic touch sensations, fostering a sense of connection even in physically separated individuals.
Central to the tactile aspect of the project is the development of ultrathin silicone films, only 50 micrometers thick, which can be seamlessly integrated into textiles. Acting as both sensors and actuators, these films capture tactile input from one person and transmit corresponding movements to another, creating a lifelike sensation of touch.
Professor Selleck explains that the films, known as dielectric elastomers, detect tactile input from a person’s hand or finger and reproduce these movements on a second textile in contact with the recipient’s skin. This precise replication of touch creates an immersive experience, allowing individuals to feel being hugged, stroked, or caressed.
The technology relies on the electrical capacitance of the elastomer film, which varies with deformation, to accurately detect and replicate tactile sensations. By combining capacitance data with intelligent algorithms, the research team can control the motion of the film, generating continuous flexing motions or tapping movements at specified frequencies.
At the Hannover Messe, the team will showcase their technology through a demonstration featuring a watch equipped with a smart film. Beyond virtual visits for hospitalized children, this smart-textile technology has diverse applications, including enhancing computer gaming experiences and creating interactive gloves for industrial processes.
In addition to its versatility, the technology offers several advantages, including affordability, lightweight design, noiseless operation, and energy efficiency. Through ongoing developments in dielectric elastomers, the team is expanding the potential applications of smart textiles, ranging from sensory apparel to industrial components.
Overall, the integration of tactile feedback into virtual experiences represents a significant advancement in human-computer interaction, with far-reaching implications for healthcare, entertainment, and beyond.

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