A new review published online in Nature Reviews Bioengineering highlights how recent advances in wearable haptic devices are enabling more realistic, multisensory touch experiences through a combination of vibration, pressure, skin stretch, and temperature feedback.
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Authored by a team of researchers including Rice University’s Marcia O’Malley and Daniel Preston, graduate student Joshua Fleck, alumni Zane Zook (’23) and Janelle Clark (’22), and other collaborators, the study examines the current state of wearable haptics, key engineering challenges, and emerging applications across health care, robotics, immersive media, and more.
Haptic technology—the science of communicating through touch—has come a long way since its early days in the 1960s.
Initially built on rigid, stationary systems that provided force feedback from virtual environments, today’s haptic devices are increasingly wearable and capable of delivering a variety of tactile sensations. While early devices focused on simple cues like vibrations, modern systems now integrate multisensory feedback, including pressure, skin stretch, temperature, and more.
Wearable haptic devices are now integrated into consumer products such as smartwatches and gaming accessories, and they are serving more complex roles in health care, robotics and immersive media.
Marcia O'Malley, Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rice University
“A new shift toward multisensory haptic feedback, which means delivering more than one type of touch stimulus simultaneously, is enhancing user experience, but it presents new engineering and perceptual challenges. As this technology continues to evolve, we will see it move to a richer, multisensory experience — one that bridges the gap between digital interaction and human touch,” O'Malley added.
Cutaneous feedback—stimulation of the skin’s surface receptors—is now the main focus, as opposed to kinesthetic feedback, which simulates physical force on muscles and joints. But designing wearable devices that feel realistic and function consistently across users is no small task.
One of the main challenges the researchers identified is the variability in how people perceive touch. Factors like skin elasticity, moisture, receptor density, and even external conditions like humidity all affect how haptic stimuli are received. Another concern is tactile masking—when simultaneous sensations such as vibration and skin stretch interfere with one another, reducing clarity.
Every person’s skin responds differently to stimuli due to variations in elasticity, moisture and even body hair. This variability makes designing universally effective devices incredibly complex.
Daniel J. Preston, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Rice University
Comfort and usability are also critical. Devices must be lightweight, adaptable to different body parts, and not interfere with movement or daily activities. Size, weight, and attachment mechanisms all influence long-term wearability.
“True immersion in haptic technology depends not just on what users feel but on how naturally and comfortably they experience it,” Preston stated.
The review also highlights several emerging actuation technologies that could redefine how wearable haptics function:
- Electromechanical actuation remains the most widely used due to its reliability and affordability, but it often lacks the range needed for richer touch feedback.
- Polymeric actuation uses smart materials that shift shape or texture when stimulated, offering a lightweight, flexible alternative.
- Fluidic actuation, involving pressurized air or liquids, is gaining ground in soft robotics and textile-based haptics, improving adaptability and comfort.
- Thermal actuation, which delivers warming or cooling sensations, is also emerging, especially in virtual reality contexts to simulate environmental conditions or object properties.
“We expect these technologies to significantly expand the scope of haptic feedback, particularly in fields such as medical rehabilitation, prosthetic development and human-machine interaction. Although promising, further refinement is needed to improve response time, durability and energy efficiency,” O'Malley added.
The authors outline a wide range of promising applications. In virtual and augmented reality, multisensory haptics allow users to physically engage with digital content, making gaming, simulation training, and education more immersive.
In health care, wearable haptics support motor rehabilitation, assist patients using prosthetic limbs, and provide sensory feedback to improve interaction with their surroundings. Assistive technologies use tactile cues to convert sound or visuals into touch, enhancing communication for individuals with sensory impairments.
Navigation tools offer directional feedback via touch, improving mobility for the visually impaired and enabling hands-free operation in aviation or military contexts. In robotics, haptic feedback enhances remote control systems — crucial for delicate tasks like robotic surgery.
Despite major progress, the authors emphasize that understanding how the brain processes simultaneous tactile stimuli is still a critical area of research. As the field pushes toward creating truly intuitive and lifelike touch experiences, designers will need to strike a balance between technical sophistication, usability, and comfort.
“The ultimate goal is to create haptic devices that feel as natural as real-world touch,” O’Malley concluded.
Journal Reference:
Fleck, J. J. et. al. (2025) Wearable multi-sensory haptic devices. Nature Reviews Bioengineering. doi.org/10.1038/s44222-025-00274-w