The future of sensory substitution, addition, and expansion via haptic devices
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without primary empirical data or systematic search methodology
OpenAlex W4315782476 · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2022.1055546
What was done
This narrative review synthesizes academic and industry literature on non-invasive haptic devices that transmit information to the nervous system via vibration patterns on the skin. The authors categorize and describe applications across sensory substitution (e.g., sound-to-touch for hearing loss), sensory expansion (e.g., detecting electromagnetic radiation outside visible light), and sensory addition (e.g., magnetoreception).
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical findings, quantitative metrics, or statistical outcomes; it provides a conceptual summary and descriptive classification of sensory manipulation using haptic interfaces.
Why it matters
The review outlines how non-invasive haptic interfaces can serve not only as assistive technologies for sensory loss but also as tools for augmenting human perception with novel sensory modalities.
Limits
This is a narrative review that presents no new empirical data, quantitative comparisons, or systematic review methodology, and the abstract does not assess device efficacy, usability, or neuroplastic adaptation limits.
Cited by
- supports Sensory substitution devices that convert sound into patterns of vibration on the skin enable deaf individuals to learn to interpret auditory information.