Our sense of touch is so integral to our existence that it's difficult to imagine a world without it. Unlike vision and hearing, we can't easily mask it with blindfolds or earplugs, or dull it as we can our sense of smell by holding our nose. Touch is an omnipresent function that completely envelops us via our skin, providing a layer of protection from our surroundings while at the same time enabling us to interact with them. For centuries, sensory technology has focused largely on sight and hearing, the twin pillars that form the basis of communication. But the science of haptics, or kinaesthetic communication, is undergoing something of a revolution. The emergence of smartphones and proliferation of touchscreens have brought the technology into the mainstream. Now, the rising popularity of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is fuelling rapid advances, with sectors including healthcare and robotics exploring its potential across a range of applications. "Our sense of touch is absolutely fundamental," Dr Alastair Barrow, director of Generic Robotics, told the audience at a recent RAEng haptics seminar. "It's the first sense to develop in the womb and it's an ever-present always-on protector."
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