This could be useful for blind people. If the stick tapers to a hair, then it would be a soft response on a flat surface, and a stronger feel when hitting a step, &c.
Though surely they would have already discovered this...
Human beings have similar senses of touch, we just don't need the hairs because our skin is very thin compared to an elephant. However, robots sometimes use something like this.
foxyv|13 days ago
https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/31585-e...