Researchers from Changchun University of Science and Technology (CUST) and City University of Hong Kong (CityU) are at the forefront of an innovative exploration into the creation of flexible sensors employing nanomaterials. Their groundbreaking research delves into the synergies between these sensors and virtual reality applications, propelling the metaverse into uncharted territories.
In their review, published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (IJEM), the team spotlights recent developments in nanomaterial-based flexible sensors (NMFSs), encompassing diverse nanomaterial frameworks such as nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanofilms.
Crucially, the review elucidates various mechanisms for triggering interactions between NMFSs and the metaverse or virtual reality applications. These mechanisms include skin-mechanics-triggered, temperature-triggered, magnetically triggered, and neural-triggered interfaces.
In the dynamic convergence of the physical and virtual realms, machine learning emerges as a promising tool for processing sensor data and controlling avatars in the metaverse and virtual reality domain.
Wen Jung Li, a chair professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong and a co-corresponding author of the review, lauds the potential of flexible sensors based on nanomaterials for metaverse and virtual reality applications. He notes their lightweight nature, high sensitivity, and compatibility with human skin or clothing, positing that they may replace conventional silicon-based rigid sensors in numerous human-computer interaction contexts.
Jianfei Wang, the first author of the paper and a Ph.D. student at Changchun University of Science and Technology, underscores the significance of the research’s fabrication and trigger-interface methods. He highlights their potential in creating flexible sensors using various nanomaterials and their capability to detect diverse forms of physical and physiological information for human-computer interactions.
Notably, NMFSs can be seamlessly integrated with human skin or clothing to monitor a wide spectrum of physical and physiological data as individuals immerse themselves in metaverse environments. The ease of processing, material compatibility, and unique properties of nanomaterials make them ideal candidates for flexible sensors.
Compared to conventional flexible sensors, NMFSs boast several advantages, including high sensitivity, low power consumption, malleability, reliability, and the potential for large-scale production. This empowers VR and metaverse systems to monitor various aspects of the human body, promising a more seamless and immersive experience.
The collaborative research team formed by CUST and CityU researchers is not stopping at flexible sensors; they are venturing into the realm of functional nanomaterial sensors for applications in virtual reality.
Professor Li envisions a future where flexible sensors will enhance the realism, immersion, and naturalness of the virtual reality experience. By delving into skin vibrations, facial expressions, muscle activities, limb motions, and more, they aim to provide users with a profoundly realistic experience of their living and working environments. This research, rooted in nanomaterial innovation, sets the stage for a metaverse transformation.
