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Haptic wearables as sensory replacement, sensory augmentation and trainer – a review
Open accessAbstract
Sensory impairments decrease quality of life and can slow or hinder rehabilitation. Small, computationally powerful electronics have enabled the recent development of wearable systems aimed to improve function for individuals with sensory impairments. The purpose of this review is to synthesize current haptic wearable research for clinical applications involving sensory impairments. We define haptic wearables as untethered, ungrounded body worn devices that interact with skin directly or through clothing and can be used in natural environments outside a laboratory. Results of this review are categorized by degree of sensory impairment. Total impairment, such as in an amputee, blind, or deaf individual, involves haptics acting as sensory replacement; partial impairment, as is common in rehabilitation, involves haptics as sensory augmentation; and no impairment involves haptics as trainer. This review found that wearable haptic devices improved function for a variety of clinical applications including: rehabilitation, prosthetics, vestibular loss, osteoarthritis, vision loss and hearing loss. Future haptic wearables development should focus on clinical needs, intuitive and multimodal haptic displays, low energy demands, and biomechanical compliance for long-term usage.
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![Fig. 2 Haptic wearables for upper-limb prostheses. (left) Mechanical and vibroelectric haptic device for relaying pressure and vibration. Image from [35] used with permission from IEEE. (right) Compact wearable device for contact, pressure, vibration, shear, and temperature for amputees who underwent targeted nerve reinnervation surgery. Image from [47] used with permission from IEEE](/paper-figures/e8784d607c394bf6984523dc022f4475/haptic-wearables-as-sensory-replacement-sensory-augmentation-and-trainer-a-figure-2.jpg)
![Fig. 3 Wearable finger vibrotactors can be used to encode Braille characters and for guidance and navigation for the blind. Image from [80] used with permission from IEEE](/paper-figures/ef438ec7bd584e75bc7bf1c744fc3c1d/haptic-wearables-as-sensory-replacement-sensory-augmentation-and-trainer-a-figure-3.jpg)
![Fig. 4 Vibration insoles can assist in navigation for the blind. Image from [89] used with permission from IEEE](/paper-figures/9a4374c11deb48a59f72ff186862dfee/haptic-wearables-as-sensory-replacement-sensory-augmentation-and-trainer-a-figure-4.jpg)
![Fig. 5 Tactor arrays can be used to improve standing posture through selective vibrations at the location needing correction. Image from [103] used with permission from IEEE](/paper-figures/bcb5882db47b4677acd872632491b434/haptic-wearables-as-sensory-replacement-sensory-augmentation-and-trainer-a-figure-5.jpg)
![Fig. 6 Sensory feedback applied to the tongue. (left) An electrotactile array for applying feedback to the tongue (Brainport balance device). (right) An example of tactile stimulation applied to the tongue to give feedback on head tilt for individuals with vestibular loss. Images from [132] used with permission from Elsevier](/paper-figures/69cd0e2e2fe04e25b3072af9ae4931db/haptic-wearables-as-sensory-replacement-sensory-augmentation-and-trainer-a-figure-6.jpg)

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“Ease of use, comfort level, mobility and appearance need to be seriously considered if the blind are to be expected to use a particular device (Dakopolous & Bourbakis, 2010; Elli et al., 2014; Shull & Damian, 2015).”
From Designing sensory-substitution devices: Principles, pitfalls and potential1 (2016) · cites this paper as Shull & Damian, 2015
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“Although this presents many challenges, a feedback system that codes the environment through haptics and audition in conjunction may compensate for the drawbacks of using only each individual sense if strengths are strategically utilized and weaknesses avoided (Shull & Damian, 2015).”
From Designing sensory-substitution devices: Principles, pitfalls and potential1 (2016) · cites this paper as Shull & Damian, 2015
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Metadata
- Authors
- Shull, P. B., & Damian, D. D.
- Affiliations
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Shull, Peter B.
- Venue
- Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
- Published
- 2015-07-20
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 59-59
- ISSN
- 1743-0003 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4506766
- OpenAlex
- W1782270568
- Cited by
- 245
- References
- 161
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 1.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (51121063)
- University of Michigan (14X120010006)
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (143344)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (973 Program, 51121063)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- National Key Research and Development Program of China (2011CB013305)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Teleoperation and Haptic Systems
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics
- Keywords
- sensory impairment, sensory augmentation, rehabilitation, prosthetics, amputation, blindness, deafness, vestibular loss, osteoarthritis, vision loss, hearing loss, wearable devices
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Prosthesis Design, Sensation Disorders, Prostheses and Implants, Feedback, Sensory, Wireless Technology
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