An Australian research team has developed new electronic gloves that can recreate the sense of touch while maintaining social distancing to protect its wearer from the covid-19 infection.
According to the Tech Xplore website, these innovative gloves, which still need further testing, have been fashioned by a research team at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
The new technology mimics the experience of touch by stimulating localized areas of the skin in ways that are similar to what is felt in the real world.
It makes the wearer feel as if he is actually touching real objects.
Dr. Thanh Nho Do, professor of Medical Robotics Lab at UNSW, said the sense of touch was something many people took for granted.
"When we do things with our hands, such as holding a mobile phone or typing on a keyboard, all of these actions are impossible without haptic."
"Wearing the new gloves is like having a second skin. It's soft, stretchable and mimics the sense of touch, and will enable new forms of haptic communication to enhance everyday activities," he explained.