Purpose:　This　paper　aims　to　report　a　flexible　position-sensitive　sensor　that　can　be　applied　as　large-area　electronic　skin　over　the　stiff　media.　Design/methodology/approach:　The　sensor　uses　a　whole　piezoresistive　film　as　a　touch　sensing　area.　By　alternately　constructing　two　uniform　electric　fields　with　orthogonal　directions　in　the　piezoresistive　film,　the　local　changes　in　conductivity　caused　by　touch　can　be　projected　to　the　boundary　along　the　equipotential　line　under　the　constraint　of　electric　field.　Based　on　the　change　of　boundary　potential　in　the　two　uniform　electric　fields,　it　can　be　easy　to　determine　the　position　of　the　contact　area　in　the　piezoresistive　film.　Findings:　Experiment　results　show　the　proposed　tactile　sensor　is　capable　of　detecting　the　contact　position　and　classifying　the　contact　force　in　real-time　based　on　the　changes　of　the　potential　differences　on　the　boundary　of　the　sensor.　Practical　implications:　The　application　example　of　using　the　sensor　sample　as　a　controller　in　shooting　game　is　presented　in　this　paper.　It　shows　that　the　sensor　has　excellent　touch　sensing　performance.　Originality/value:　In　this　paper,　a　position-sensitive　electronic　skin　is　proposed.　The　experiment　results　show　that　the　sensor　has　great　application　prospects　in　the　field　of　interactive　tactile　sensing.　©　2020,　Emerald　Publishing　Limited.