Wearable Haptics

Haptic feedback systems designed to be worn on the body — rings, wristbands, gloves, vests, shoes, or exoskeletons — that deliver tactile, vibrotactile, or kinesthetic cues during mobile, hands-free use. Wearable haptics are a core building block of assistive navigation, guidance, and alerting systems for blind and vision-impaired users, as well as for Deaf and hard-of-hearing accessibility (e.g., haptic captioning). Key design concerns include encumbrance (not interfering with natural touch or grasp), weight, battery life, and whether cues are symbolic or continuous.