Researchers have developed a handheld device that “prints” sheets of artificial skin directly onto burn wounds, with the treatment being explored as an effective alternative for skin grafts and other burn treatments.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Hong Kong researchers have developed a soft artificial skin made from silicone that allows the wearer to feel objects in virtual reality. This sense of touch adds to virtual reality’s potential by allowing video gamers to feel strikes or help people with prosthetic arms better sense the shape of objects they are holding.
This melding of synthetic materials with sensing technology will significantly expand restorative capabilities in medicine and bring us closer to creating “replicant”-like robots.