U.S. agency DARPA's researchers have successfully tested an artificial hand that can give a man a near-natural level of touch.
According to the Engadget, the patient could tell when scientists were pressing against specific fingers.
The key was to augment the thought-controlled hand with a set of pressure-sensitive torque motors wired directly to the brain. Any time the hand touched something, it sent electrical signals that felt much like flesh-and-bone contact.
The sensors do not cover the entire hand and they do not account for temperature or other factors the users will likely worry about when grabbing objects.
There is still a lot of research and time required before this hardware reaches the patients.