The present disclosure provides various systems and methods for inducing cutaneous sensations by delivering electromagnetic radiation to directly or indirectly excite neural tissue. An electromagnetic radiation source, such as one or more infrared lasers, may be used to transcutaneously excite neural tissue. The excited neural tissue may be interpreted by the users nervous system as cutaneous sensations. Accordingly, a system as described herein may be used to induce sensations to allow actual cutaneous sensations to be simulated. A system for inducing a cutaneous sensation via transcutaneously focused electromagnetic radiation may be incorporated in a display to provide cutaneous sensation feedback or used as a separate accessory component associated with a display. Numerous additional applications and variations are provided herein.
