Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

'Smart Fingertips' Pave Way For Virtual Sensations

Posted by samzenpus on from the let-your-fingers-do-the-virtual-walking dept.

sciencehabit writes "Imagine feeling like you're lifting a 50-kilogram weight just by pulling at thin air. That's just one of the possible applications of new 'smart fingertips' created by a team of nanoengineers. The electronic fingers mold to the shape of the hand, and so far the researchers have shown that they can transmit electric signals to the skin. The team hopes to one day incorporate the devices into a smart glove that creates virtual sensations, fooling the brain into feeling everything from texture to temperature."

7 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. pr0n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You were thinking it. Get it out of the way first.

    1. Re:pr0n by flyneye · · Score: 3, Insightful

      O.K. I'll be the one to say it. The tip we are interested in virtualizing is NOT a finger.
      This could be a disease free replacement for prostitution. You could virtualize any number of kinky situations.
      We all KNOW what these nano scientists had in mind hehehehehehe...

      --
      *Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
  2. Re:Nintendo by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 3, Funny

    I take it you never had a power glove...

  3. Nanoengineers! by fearofcarpet · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Wow, those are some tiny engineers! I wonder what they eat?

    --
    Actually, I wrote my thesis on life experience.
  4. Nano, eh? by T+Murphy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    a team of nanoengineers

    I think the politically correct term would be "vertically challenged engineers".

    --
    My webcomic
  5. "What happened to your hand?" "Hackers." by Havenwar · · Score: 3, Funny

    A glove that makes me feel sensations is great and all, but I do hope it comes with some pretty heavy security limitations and so on... Wouldn't want some hacker to get access to my machine and burn my hand, or shock it, or even just cause extremely unpleasant sensations to it as a form of blackmail or just for kicks. Sure, "just take it off"... not so easy if both your hands are spasming because you feel they are stuck into a fire or something.

  6. Re:ummmmm by somersault · · Score: 4, Funny

    Since the demise of the CRT, I suppose that's true..

    --
    which is totally what she said