Rogers and Huang originally created the epidermal VR device to monitor the progress of speech patterns and swallowing in stroke survivors after physical rehabilitation. The device transmits information to the patient’s rehab specialist and also alerts the patient to irregular swallowing or speaking patterns through tactile feedback.
The researchers then realized that if the arrays of actuators were programmable, “you could create an immersive experience that would have relevance to virtual reality, where your current systems are dominated by auditory and visual cues,” explains Rogers. “If you go beyond the eyes and ears and include touch, it could profoundly expand the impact of VR or AR, especially in the context of remote instruction and the rise of social media.”
For higher ed institutions, the potential uses for this innovative tech are numerous. Epidermal VR applied to surgical training would offer tactile input from the instructor to help a student more precisely understand proper positioning and movements. Physical therapy training would similarly benefit from this technology.