Seung-Chan Kim, a haptic interface researcher

(University of British Columbia – Computer Science)

Date : 24th(WED) Nov. 2010, 2:00pm~3:00pm

Place: Mechanical Engineering(N7) E1 Seminar Room(3F #3213)

In the last decade, affect (emotion) and affective design has gradually gained acceptance as an important element of user interface and product design: the impact of pleasing and comforting environments and interactions on wellness and productivity are no longer arguable, and usability in technology is part of this. Conversely, methods for measuring affect and using it to analyze, and more recently to inform and guide technology-supported interactions are becoming more mature. However, the studies, technology and methods have largely focused on affect that is expressed or influenced through visual and sometimes auditory modalities. Haptic affect, expressed or perceived through physical contact, is open ground; but it is clearly an important channel, involved in early development, our interactions with pets and other people. But we don’t know exactly why or how; how it complements and relies on other modalities; details of how people use and perceive touch to communicate emotion; the cost of leaving physical affective design *out* of most of the products we live, work and play with; and how to design it in. I’ll talk about several projects over the last ~5 years that have explored these and other questions.

Human-Robot Interaction Research Center,

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, KAIST

Director : Dong Soo Kwon

Secretary: Eun-Hwa Kwak  , (Tel) 8249

Student : Seung-Chan Kim , (Tel) 3082