Smart Skin - A Touch of the Future

What if you reached out and touched a surface that could actually feel what you were doing? 

That’s exactly what a team of researchers at Stanford University, led by Professor Benjamin Chao in collaboration with the U.S.-based smart materials company SynTouch, has achieved.

The idea began in 2022 as a lab experiment to create an ultra-thin layer of synthetic silicon embedded with a network of piezoelectric sensors. This layer can detect pressure, temperature, and motion patterns, then instantly translate them into digital signals.

After three years of development, the prototype emerged, capable of distinguishing between different textures, glass, fabric, or skin, with an accuracy of up to 95%. SynTouch aims to integrate this technology into robots, prosthetics, and interactive control systems, enabling devices to “feel” touch and respond like humans.

From a medical perspective, the team noted that the technology could be a game changer for advanced prosthetics, allowing users to regain the sensation of temperature or surface smoothness, making fine tasks easier. In healthcare, it could be used in robotic surgical tools, giving doctors a “sense of touch” even when operating remotely.

Limited commercial trials are expected to begin in 2026, potentially paving the way for a revolution in how humans interact with machines, making digital touch a part of our everyday lives.