Dustin Tyler, Director of the Human Fusions Institute (HFI) and co-founder of Afference, is featured in Freethink’s Hard Reset series, which highlights cutting-edge innovations addressing today’s challenges. The episode explores how Afference’s Phantom harness, built on technology developed at HFI, is introducing the sense of touch into virtual reality.
The Phantom harness uses non-invasive electrical stimulation to interact with the nervous system, enabling users to experience basic touch sensations in virtual environments. As Dustin Tyler explains, touch is fundamental to human connection, and bringing it into virtual spaces represents a major step forward for neural haptics.
This feature demonstrates how HFI research translates into real-world applications, bridging the gap between academic innovation and practical technology.
Discover how Afference is transforming virtual reality by introducing the sense of touch. Watch Freethink’s video for an inside look at the technology
