Restoring the Sense of Touch: From “Sci-Fi Dream” to Reality

A range of remarkable prostheses are now available to give function back to people who have had hands, arms, feet, or legs amputated, but for all their capabilities, these devices are missing a critical feature: a real sense of touch. Without it, a patient has no tactile sensory feedback on whether they have stepped off a curb or onto a misplaced child's toy, or are gripping a Styrofoam coffee cup or a toddler's hand too tightly or too loosely. Research projects today, however, are coming closer to restoring the sense of touch, which will help prostheses evolve from amazing tools to true replacement body parts.