A glove and armband that gives people with upper limb prosthetics a sense of touch through haptic feedback is in development at the University of Bath, with unique at-home trials set to begin in the coming weeks.
A glove and armband that gives people with upper limb prosthetics a sense of touch through haptic feedback is in development at the University of Bath, with at-home trials set to begin in the coming weeks. Engineers at the University are working with Open Bionics, a Bristol company that created the world's first medically approved 3D printed bionic arm, to improve the experience for people who use prosthetic arms. The project aims to reduce the likelihood of users abandoning prosthetics by involving them in the design process to create a wearable device that meets their needs by providing touch-like feedback through vibrations. Participants will test the device at home, rather than in the lab, and updates will be made via the internet in direct response to their feedback, giving them the opportunity to customise their device. The prototype device comprises a vibrotactile feedback kit, which participants in the trials will test out during their normal day-to-day activities. The glo