Meta Unveils ‘Tactile Gloves’ Prototype, Testers Report ‘Ghostly’ Sensation
(Meta Develops ‘Tactile Gloves’, But Users Say After Trying It, ‘It’S Like Being Touched By A Ghost’)
MENLO PARK, CA – Meta revealed a new prototype: gloves designed to let users feel virtual objects. The company aims to make virtual reality interactions more realistic.
The gloves use special technology. Tiny air pockets inflate rapidly on the fingertips. Small motors create vibrations. This combination tries to mimic the feeling of touching different surfaces. Users wear these gloves inside virtual worlds.
Early testers tried the gloves. Their feedback was surprising. Many described the sensation as strange. “It feels like something is there,” one tester said. “But it’s not solid. It’s like being touched by a ghost.” Others agreed. They felt a presence, but not a real touch.
The sensation feels faint. It lacks the weight and pressure of real contact. Some testers found it unsettling. The gloves are a significant engineering step. Making convincing touch remains difficult. Current technology cannot fully replicate the complexity of human skin and nerves.
Meta acknowledges the feedback. The company calls the gloves “early research”. Engineers are working to improve the feeling. They want stronger sensations. They want more detailed textures. The goal is convincing touch in the metaverse.
(Meta Develops ‘Tactile Gloves’, But Users Say After Trying It, ‘It’S Like Being Touched By A Ghost’)
This technology faces big hurdles. Making it comfortable for long periods is hard. Reducing the size and cost is another challenge. Mass production seems distant. The ghostly feeling highlights the gap between digital simulation and physical reality. Meta continues development.
