Tactile stimulators manipulate sensors in the skin to produce sensations such as light touch, vibration, pressure, shape, and texture. The wide variety of applications for tactile stimulation include sensory substitution and augmentation, telepresence and telerobotic sensory feedback, improved immersion in virtual environments, and general information communication through the skin senses. This article discusses the three primary classes of tactile stimulation technologies: vibrotaction, dynamic mechanical shape arrays, and electrocutaneous stimulation. An overview of basic mechanoreceptor physiology is provided, including implications for stimulator design parameters. Predictions for the future development of tactile stimulation are presented, including the emerging applications in wearable computers.