While artificial limbs are unbelievable feats of science and engineering, developers have so far struggled to create skin that can sense touch – meaning that amputees are left without a vital sense. But thanks to an international team of scientists from South Korea and the US, prosthetics technology is set to receive a major boost.

The researchers have created "smart skin", a material that enables its owner to feel what's around them, whether that's the touch of a pencil, a handshake or even the temperature of the room.

Study co-author Kim Dae-Hyeong told CBS News: "Previously, these robots or prosthetic arms and legs did not have skins that enable high resolution sensing of pressure, strain, temperature, humidity. We focused on this point by developing high density sensor array that is similar to the real human skin."

The "smart skin" comes in the form of a transparent glove made from a material called elastomer. It contains sensors and electrodes that stimulate the nerves and create the sensation of touch.

Because the skin is worn as a glove by its users, it's important that it matches natural skin in terms of durability and flexibility. The team achieved this by filming multiple images of tilted wrists and tightly clenched fists – positions in which skin is stretched to its maximum, something which Kim says "minimises the possibility of mechanical fractures of sensors".

The emergence of "smart skin" marks an important switch of focus in prosthetics. Whereas previously artificial limbs were designed to emulate missing arms or legs, the material aims to use sensors and electrodes to interact with the body's nervous system and become fully integrated into the human body. In other words, this is wearable tech taken to the extreme. 

Head here for all of our science coverage.