Systems and methods for sensing an applied local tactile pressure are disclosed. The methods can include directing light onto a tactile sensing element that includes a metal nanoparticle layer. The methods can further include receiving at least a portion of the light scattered from the metal nanoparticle layer. The methods can further include determining a local pressure exerted on the tactile sensing element based at least in part on a change in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectrum of the received portion of the scattered light.