For the first time, people who are born deafblind may soon be able to understand live conversations, thanks to new smart textile technology developed at Nottingham Trent University (NTU).
Researchers there have created a special kind of glove with built-in electronics that can help people who cannot see or hear to follow what’s being said around them.
The gloves use artificial intelligence (AI) to listen to conversations happening nearby.
The AI then summarizes what’s being said and sends that information to the person wearing the gloves through gentle vibrations on their fingers.
These vibrations work in a coded pattern, much like braille, which uses raised dots to represent letters and words. But instead of feeling raised dots, the person feels tiny vibrations that tell them the words being spoken.
The gloves contain small devices called haptic actuators.
These are placed just below the knuckles and can vibrate in different ways—changing how strong they feel, how fast they move, and how long they last.
This variety makes it possible to send not only letters and words, but also things like grammar, numbers, and even messages like phone alerts or public announcements.
Dr. Hughes-Riley from NTU’s Advanced Textiles Research Group says this could change everyday life for many people born deafblind.
“This technology allows people to understand conversations happening around them, not just online or in controlled settings, but out on the street, in train stations, or anywhere in public,” she explained. “It offers a way to be part of the world in a much more connected and independent way.”
The idea for using smart textiles in this way came from researcher Malindu Ehelagasthenna, who is currently working on his Ph.D. as part of the project.
He believes the gloves could help people who are completely deafblind as well as those who have limited vision or hearing. “This could make it easier for people to communicate, get information, and move around in their daily lives,” he said.
The team has already developed a working prototype, and they presented their research at an international conference in March 2024.
With millions of people around the world living with severe deafblindness, the researchers hope their invention will make a real difference—giving many the chance to engage with their surroundings in ways that were never possible before.
