US Patent 10071015 Wearable device for improving tactile sensitivity

A method increases a tactile sensitivity of a fingertip of a user with a wearable device. The wearable device includes a vibrating element, an actuator for receiving user input, and a control circuitry. The method includes positioning the vibrating element on one of a user's arm, wrist, hand, or proximal finger segment and activating the vibrating element to apply a vibrating force at a first magnitude. The method also includes receiving user input indicating that the user detected movement of the vibrating element at the first magnitude and applying the vibrating force at a second magnitude, the second magnitude being lower than the first magnitude, to increase the tactile sensitivity of at least one fingertip of the user.