Capacitive Tactile Sensors in Virtual Reality Gloves: Applications and Research Progress

The rapid development of virtual reality (VR) technologies has intensified the demand for more realistic human–computer interactions. Among different input devices, VR gloves integrated with tactile sensing units have emerged as a key tool for enhancing immersion. Capacitive tactile sensors, characterized by high sensitivity, low power consumption, and design flexibility, are regarded as one of the most promising solutions. This paper reviews the fundamental principles of capacitive tactile sensing, discusses their structural design for wearable applications, and evaluates their implementation in VR gloves across gaming, healthcare, industrial training, and education. Challenges including durability, signal noise, integration with haptic feedback, and production cost are discussed, and potential future directions including the use of advanced materials, multi-modal sensing, and artificial intelligence are highlighted. The review concludes that capacitive tactile sensors provide a strong foundation for the development of realistic and practical VR glove systems, paving the way for broader immersive VR applications in daily life and professional fields.