New artificial skin for first ticklish devices developed

Scientists have developed an artificial skin that allows devices such as smartphones and computers to ''feel'' the user''s grasp, pressure and location, and can even detect interactions such as tickling, caressing, twisting and pinching. The Skin-On interface, developed by researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK in partnership with Telecomm ParisTech and Sorbonne University in France, mimics human skin in appearance as well as sensing resolution. The researchers adopted a bio-driven approach to developing a multi-layer, silicone membrane that mimics the layers present in human skin. This is made up of a surface textured layer, an electrode layer of conductive threads and a hypodermis layer, the researchers said. Not only is the interface more natural than a rigid casing, it can also detect a plethora of gestures made by the end-users, they said.