Research
Advancing Human-Computer Interaction through Sensory Augmentation and Assistive Technologies
"I aim to empower individuals with sensory impairments by creating intuitive, haptic-based sensory augmentation systems that bridge the gap between the environment and perception."
Featured Research Projects
TactDeform
Finger pad deformation inspired spatial tactile feedback for virtual geometry exploration. A system that mimics the natural deformation of the finger pad to provide high-fidelity haptic sensations.
Just Before Touch
Manipulating perceived haptic sensations through proactive vibrotactile cues. Using anticipatory feedback to "prime" the user's nervous system before actual physical contact.
PhD Thesis
Sensory Augmentation for Vision Impairment through Haptics
My doctoral research investigates how sensory augmentation and haptic feedback can help people with vision impairment understand their environment. The work focuses on developing wearable systems that translate visual and spatial information into intuitive tactile sensations, enabling more independent navigation and interaction.
Research Objectives
- Design intuitive haptic metaphors for communicating spatial information
- Develop wearable sensory augmentation systems for real-world navigation
- Investigate the long-term cognitive impact of using sensory substitution devices
- Establish design guidelines for accessible multisensory interfaces
Methodology
- User-centered design with the vision impairment community
- Qualitative interviews and field studies
- Iterative prototyping of wearable haptic devices
- Quantitative evaluation of spatial awareness and navigation performance
Research Areas
Sensory Augmentation
Investigating how wearable technologies can expand human perception, particularly for individuals with sensory impairments.
Haptic Feedback
Exploring tactile and vibrotactile feedback mechanisms to communicate environmental information and enhance spatial awareness.
Assistive Technology
Designing and developing interactive systems that empower people with vision impairment to navigate and understand their surroundings.
Multisensory Perception
Studying how the brain integrates information from different senses and how to leverage this for effective sensory substitution.
Research Interests
Current & Future Work
I am currently investigating how wearable haptic devices can provide real-time spatial awareness for people with vision impairment, focusing on the design of intuitive haptic metaphors. My work aims to establish a framework for effective sensory augmentation that minimizes cognitive load.
Future research directions include exploring the potential of multimodal sensory substitution (combining haptics and audio), longitudinal studies on neural plasticity and device adaptation, and the development of context-aware assistive systems that leverage computer vision and AI.