Russia Is Developing Tech to Transmit Touch Over Distance
Scientists at the Sirius University of Science and Technology are building a prototype that could eventually make its way into touchscreens and VR gloves, bringing the sense of touch to digital interaction.
By December 2026, researchers at the Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences of the Sirius University of Science and Technology expect to finish a prototype of their project, dubbed Osyazashka. The initiative, led by neurotechnology and sensory interface expert Boris Sagalaev, aims to make it possible to transmit tactile sensations in sync with visual images.
The team has designed a multimodal tactile stimulator. If early results are successful, the technology will first be adapted for touchscreens, with the long-term goal of creating virtual reality gloves. The challenge is formidable: replicating the sensation of touch without lag relative to the visuals.
The roadmap includes four stages before the prototype release: theoretical validation using computer models of nerve ending activation, building and testing hybrid electrode prototypes, conducting safety and efficacy trials, and psychophysical studies with human volunteers.
The researchers believe skin receptors can be activated via electrical stimulation. The device under development is also designed to integrate with methods of monitoring neural activity such as electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, and magnetic resonance imaging.
