Revolutionizing human touch — Rice engineers advancing wearable haptics available to discuss technology

Prosthetic hand

From immersive virtual reality to breakthroughs in rehabilitation and assistive technology, haptic devices are transforming how we interact with digital environments. A newly published review in Nature Reviews Bioengineering highlights the evolution of wearable multisensory haptic devices — and the Rice University researchers behind it are available for media interviews.

Featured experts:

Marcia O’Malley, the Thomas Michael Panos Family Professor in Engineering and professor and chair of mechanical engineering
Expertise: wearable haptic technology, human-machine interaction, rehabilitation robotics

Daniel Preston, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
Expertise: soft robotics, fluidic systems, wearable devices, actuation technologies

Talking points:

● The shift from single-sensory to multisensory haptic feedback in consumer and health care applications.

● Engineering challenges in skin-contact mechanics and user comfort.

● Breakthroughs in actuation methods — from electromechanical to thermal feedback.

● Emerging uses in virtual reality, prosthetics, rehabilitation and assistive communication.

● The future of human touch in digital interaction.

Why it matters:
As wearable haptics become more advanced and accessible, they’re poised to redefine everything from gaming and augmented reality to prosthetic feedback and stroke rehabilitation. The Rice team’s review offers a roadmap for next-generation touch technologies.

To arrange an interview, please contact Alex Becker, media relations specialist at Rice, at alex.becker@rice.edu or 713-348-6794.

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