Compliant　tactile　sensing　has　received　increasing　interests　in　human-robot　interactions　and　soft　robotic　sensing.　However,　it　is　still　challenging　to　achieve　high　sensing　performance　over　an　area　with　low　wiring　complexity.　This　paper　is　to　implement　and　evaluate　a　soft,　distributed　sensor　that　is　enabled　by　the　technique　of　electrical　impedance　tomography　(EIT),　which　allows　areal　sensing　using　only　boundary　measurements.　To　achieve　mechanical　compliance　of　the　sensor,　a　functional　natural　rubber　composites　filled　with　exfoliated　graphite　(EG/NR)　is　fabricated　by　spray　coating.　Long-Term　stability　of　the　sensing　material　is　evaluated　under　cyclic　tests,　and　a　high　gauge　factor　of　6.25　is　obtained,　which　can　be　explained　from　the　evolution　of　the　micromorphology　under　strain.　A　continuous　sensing　area　with　a　diameter　of　12　cm　is　prepared,　and　16　electrodes　are　attached　along　the　periphery　to　implement　distributed　sensing.　The　performance　of　the　sensor　is　characterized　under　indentation　tests.　Results　show　that　the　intensity　sensitivity　monotonically　decreases　with　the　distance　to　the　boundary,　and　consistent　response　is　obtained　along　all　the　radial　directions,　providing　predictable　performance　over　the　sensing　area.　©　COPYRIGHT　SPIE.　Downloading　of　the　abstract　is　permitted　for　personal　use　only.