What if human touch could be mapped like terrain, every grip revealing peaks and contours, every contact a trace you could study and improve. At PPS, that idea became the TactileGlove, a capacitive sensing glove that turns touch into actionable data for practitioners across disciplines. 

Since its launch in 2015, the TactileGlove has undergone several evolutions. What began as a delicate instrument with a limited sensors is now a robust ergonomic device used throughout industry, healthcare and sport. Its potential is still unfolding as the technology matures, combining higher-fidelity measurement with simpler operation.

From fingertip forces to full hand insight

TactileGlove grew out of FingerTPS, a PPS system introduced in 2002 to measure forces at the fingertips. That early platform proved valuable for research and product development, but its scope was limited. In 2015 PPS extended the concept across the entire hand including the palm, giving engineers and ergonomists a way to measure exertion during real world tasks, such as cutting sheet metal with shears, lifting boxes, and fine assembly.

The system uses capacitive sensing, a technology most readers will associate with touch screens, adapted here for pressure and force measurement. The latest generation includes Bluetooth 5 connectivity for faster, more reliable data transfer over an extended range. Sampling rates from 10 Hz to 50 Hz support real time grip analysis and motion capture, with live streaming into analysis software so engineers, therapists, and trainers can visualise hand forces as they happen.

To learn more about TactileGlove and to access studies completed with academic partners, visit the PPS website.