Ultra-thin patch delivers high-precision feel on flat screens

Northwestern University engineers have developed VoxeLite, an ultra-thin, fingertip-worn haptic device that achieves human-level resolution in touch by delivering highly precise tactile sensations on flat screens. Unlike previous haptic technologies that relied on coarse vibrations, VoxeLite uses a dense grid of tactile pixels—small nodes embedded in a stretchable latex sheet—that create electroadhesion to modulate friction and mechanical force on the skin. This allows users to feel virtual textures with clarity matching the spatial and temporal acuity of the human fingertip, enabling realistic sensations such as roughness or smoothness by adjusting voltage levels. VoxeLite supports two operational modes: an active mode where nodes rapidly tilt up to 800 times per second to generate dynamic virtual textures, and a passive mode that maintains comfort and normal touch interaction without removal. User tests demonstrated high accuracy in recognizing directional cues (87%) and identifying fabric textures like leather and corduroy (81%). The device weighs less than a gram and is designed