Feel what it's like to tickle bug feet

November 24, 2022 1:40 PM

From IEEE Spectrum comes These Haptic Microfingers Tickle Pill Bugs’ Toes subheadlined Balloon actuators and liquid metal sensors enable tactile human-insect interactions in which is described microfingers with tactile fingertip feedback so one could feel things at insect scale. This feels really important, even if right now it's just tickling bug toes.
posted by hippybear (4 comments total)

A fingsmaller, if you will
posted by Jon Mitchell at 2:39 PM on November 24, 2022 [5 favorites]

That's very cool. I wonder if there's any application for this technology in helping people with disabilities.
posted by dg at 4:38 PM on November 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

This is cool, no doubt. But, like, can they ship it first and then brag about it? The applicability for new ways to pet / entertain / annoy my cats cannot be denied and I want a "Buy Now!" link.
posted by revmitcz at 11:43 PM on November 24, 2022

I am reminded of some guy who designs and builds electronics and who implanted a tiny magnet in a fingertip so that he can sense current in a wire, as a debugging tool.
posted by neuron at 9:07 AM on November 25, 2022