IEEE World Haptics Conference 2025
Workshop/Tutorials
IEEE World Haptics Conference 2025
Workshop/Tutorials
Workshop/Tutorials
Workshops/Tutorials
Please find below the list of the 9 accepted workshops and 2 tutorials to be held on July 8, 2025.
[W1] Emerging Challenges in Wearable Haptics
Organizer(s):
Thomas Daunizeau (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), Giulio Grasso (Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems)
Thomas Daunizeau (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), Giulio Grasso (Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems)
As computing shifts from desktop environments toward miniaturized and embedded systems, haptic feedback is evolving similarly toward wearable, ungrounded devices. This transition enables seamless, intuitive, whole-body interactions, and unlocks the potential to fully leverage the sensing capabilities of our largest sensory organ. Recent advances in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) further drive demand for wearable haptic technologies, which support unrestricted movement and avoid interference with visual and auditory channels, both crucial for realistic and immersive user experiences. Developing wearable haptic devices involves unique engineering challenges, particularly in tailoring cutaneous stimuli to the distinct sensitivity and acuity of different body regions. Traditional electromagnetic actuators tend to be too stiff and ineffective at millimeter scales, prompting exploration of unconventional solutions. Breakthroughs in materials science and manufacturing have enabled the integration of soft polymers, smart materials, pneumatics, fluidics, active textiles, and compliant mechanisms. While these innovations better match the mechanical properties of skin and the needs of the somatosensory system, significant trade-offs remain between bandwidth, resolution, and power density. Embedding novel actuators into wearable devices introduces additional challenges related to accommodating diverse body shapes, ensuring consistent tactile interaction, and achieving widespread user acceptance. Emerging solutions include knitted structures, conformal electronics, and adjustable clothing. While early research primarily targeted hands and fingertips, recent studies increasingly focus on other body regions, delivering haptic feedback through less noticeable garments such as haptic vests, arm sleeves, and wrist-worn devices. Wearable technologies must be designed with human perception at the forefront. Multimodal interaction, as in VR and AR, requires careful integration of vision, audition, and touch to create immersive systems. Such interplay of modalities can be harnessed to mediate emotions or enable sensory substitution. Wearables can also serve as research platforms for exploring fundamental questions, such as the nature of interoception and the mechanisms behind haptic illusions. Dense actuation and simultaneous stimuli from wearables can induce a variety of perceptual effects, such as tactile masking or apparent motion. Whether these are intentional features or unintended side effects, they play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of wearable systems. The natural translation of new haptic wearables is commercialization, and this should make the engineering community aware that these devices should be lightweight, easy to use and robust for effective use in rehabilitation, teleoperation and remote training. This workshop will bring together experienced researchers and early-career scientists to showcase, from a multidisciplinary perspective, the latest advances in wearable haptics. It will foster discussion on emerging challenges and promote collaboration to pave the way for the next generation of wearable haptic devices.
[W2] Centering the Person in Haptics Research
Organizer(s):
Daziyah Sullivan (Rice University), Elyse Chase (Rice University), and Marcia O’Malley (Rice University)
Daziyah Sullivan (Rice University), Elyse Chase (Rice University), and Marcia O’Malley (Rice University)
This workshop will bring together haptic researchers to focus on human-computer interaction (HCI) techniques that have been proven in other fields but may have been less utilized within the field of haptics. Specifically, our focus will be on participatory design, human-centered design, and user-experience design. In this workshop, we will examine where these methods may be most applicable or appropriate. Thus, opening a dialogue that has not been done before at the World Haptics arena.
[W3] AI in Haptics
Organizer(s):
Seungjae Oh (Kyung Hee University), Sang Ho Yoon (KAIST), and Seokhee Jeon (Kyung Hee University)
Seungjae Oh (Kyung Hee University), Sang Ho Yoon (KAIST), and Seokhee Jeon (Kyung Hee University)
We live in the era of AI. Despite recent technical leaps in AI, its role in the field of haptics has remained relatively limited. This workshop aims to introduce and share recent haptic studies that are closely related to AI. In the first session, speakers will share their experiences applying AI models—ranging from early pioneering convolutional neural networks to recent large-scale vision-language models—to the design and analysis of haptic systems. Following the presentations by researchers in the community, the workshop will feature an interactive discussion session on noteworthy agendas, such as promoting the use of AI in haptics, exploring future directions, and reflecting on the role of AI in haptics (or vice versa). Join us for this open workshop, where experts will explore the opportunities and challenges of AI-driven haptic research through engaging talks and discussions. We hope this workshop will provide valuable insights and knowledge about AI to the haptics community.
[W4] Tactile Acuity and Surface perception: Mechanisms, Limits and Application
Organizer(s):
David Gueorguiev (Université Catholique de Louvain), Jenna Fradin (Sorbonne Université), Mariama Dione (Aix-Marseille Université), André Mouraux (Université Catholique de Louvain), and Rochelle Ackerley (Aix-Marseille Université)
David Gueorguiev (Université Catholique de Louvain), Jenna Fradin (Sorbonne Université), Mariama Dione (Aix-Marseille Université), André Mouraux (Université Catholique de Louvain), and Rochelle Ackerley (Aix-Marseille Université)
This workshop will explore both highly precise tactile interactions and those that induce illusory or imprecise tactile perception, with a focus on interaction with the glabrous skin of the hand due to its crucial role in interacting with the world. The workshop will compare tactile perception across various processes and relate it to computational models of touch and haptic devices, highlighting areas where future work can contribute to knowledge and lead to tactile applications. The main objective of this workshop is to bring together a panel of researchers who have significantly contributed to this field in recent years that will give insightful talks. This workshop will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the role of tactile acuity and surface perception in both fundamental research and applied contexts. This event will serve as a platform for sharing and discussing recent advancements on the topics, but will also create collaboration opportunities for the researchers who are involved in this topic.
[W5] Speculating the Future(s) of Mediated Social Touch Technology
Organizer(s):
Russian (Ruo-Xuan) Wu (University of Sydney), Tim Moesgen (Aalto University), Myung Jin (MJ) Kim (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), Donald Degraen (University of Canterbury), Hsin-Ni Ho (Kyushu University), Luke Hespanhol (University of Sydney), Marius Hoggenmueller (University of Sydney), and Anusha Withana (University of Sydney)
Russian (Ruo-Xuan) Wu (University of Sydney), Tim Moesgen (Aalto University), Myung Jin (MJ) Kim (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), Donald Degraen (University of Canterbury), Hsin-Ni Ho (Kyushu University), Luke Hespanhol (University of Sydney), Marius Hoggenmueller (University of Sydney), and Anusha Withana (University of Sydney)
The future(s) of Mediated Social Touch (MST) are highly reliant on the development of haptic technology. While replicating a realistic touch sensation is important, knowing the opportunities and threats it may bring to society is also a responsibility of researchers and hapticians. This workshop brings together engineers, computer scientists, and designers to collaboratively envision and co-create the future(s) of MST. In this workshop, we will use the Future Ripples Method—a futuring activity—to explore and materialise potential trajectories for MST. With the inspiring keynote talks from Prof. Hsin-Ni Ho and Prof. Hiroyuki Kajimoto, you are going to
(1) explore the future possibilities of MST through a futuring framework,
(2) map out the opportunities and threats of MST advancements,
(3) exchange your visions with other hapticians, and
(4) learn innovative futuring design tools.
We invite hapticians, including but not limited to engineers, designers, technologists, and computer scientists, who are interested in learning how to apply a future-oriented mindset to their work practices. In this hands-on workshop, participants are expected to have prior experience working on haptic-related projects. In the workshop, participants will share their unique visions and experiences while learning to identify potential opportunities and threats in the future of haptic technologies, helping to guide the development of mediated social touch (MST) technology.
Workshop Website: https://sites.google.com/view/speculating-futures-mst/
(1) explore the future possibilities of MST through a futuring framework,
(2) map out the opportunities and threats of MST advancements,
(3) exchange your visions with other hapticians, and
(4) learn innovative futuring design tools.
We invite hapticians, including but not limited to engineers, designers, technologists, and computer scientists, who are interested in learning how to apply a future-oriented mindset to their work practices. In this hands-on workshop, participants are expected to have prior experience working on haptic-related projects. In the workshop, participants will share their unique visions and experiences while learning to identify potential opportunities and threats in the future of haptic technologies, helping to guide the development of mediated social touch (MST) technology.
Workshop Website: https://sites.google.com/view/speculating-futures-mst/
[W6] The importance of Haptics in Telepresence
Organizer(s):
Jan van Erp (University of Twente), Tiago Falk (INRS), and Dave Magnoni (IEEE)
Jan van Erp (University of Twente), Tiago Falk (INRS), and Dave Magnoni (IEEE)
TBA
[W7] Shape Displays: Challenges in Actuators/Sensors for Tangible Interactions
Organizer(s):
Sungryul Yun (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) and Sang-Youn Kim (KoreaTech)
Sungryul Yun (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) and Sang-Youn Kim (KoreaTech)
The Shape Displays Workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the emerging field of shape displays. Participants will learn about the design and development of shape display enabling tangible interaction with 3D physical information and geometrical topology generated by various actuators and sensors. The workshop will cover fundamental principles such as the physics of stimuli-responsive materials, the design of actuators and sensors, and their integration into tactile interfaces. Invited lectures and young scientist talks will offer insight into the cutting-edge technologies for shape displays, and participants will have the opportunity to present their own work during the young scientist talks and receive feedback. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a deeper understanding of shape displays and their promising applications in various domains.
Workshop Website: https://sites.google.com/view/whc2025-shapedisplays
Workshop Website: https://sites.google.com/view/whc2025-shapedisplays
[W8] Haptic Materials from Physics to Perception
Organizer(s):
Nedim Goktepe (INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials) and Müge Cavdan (Justus Liebig University Giessen)
Nedim Goktepe (INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials) and Müge Cavdan (Justus Liebig University Giessen)
In daily life, we touch and manipulate objects of different materials to gather information and make decisions based on material properties. While these day-to-day interactions seem trivial, they underly complex multilevel interactions spanning from physical material properties to skin features and various cognitive factors. Thus, understanding how haptic material perception is formed based on these interactions at different levels and physical scales requires research from many fields including chemistry, physics, psychology, and engineering. Therefore, it takes a joint interdisciplinary effort and holistic approaches to solve the puzzle of haptic material perception and develop applications. As a step towards this direction, our workshop will bring and connect research from different fields to provide a more holistic understanding of haptic material perception. With the invited talks of experts from different fields, we will discuss haptic material perception from the window of material science, psychology, and engineering. We will weave the knowledge and methods of these fields about material, skin, and cognitive characteristics into a general understanding of material perception.
[W9] Exploring Haptic Ecosystems: Philosophies, Guidelines, and Real-World Applications
Organizer(s):
Dan Shor (Haptics Industry Forum)
Dan Shor (Haptics Industry Forum)
Haptic technology has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from simple tactile notifi cations to becoming a fundamental differentiator across a wide array of platforms and industries. Initially, haptics were primarily utilized to provide basic alerts, such as vibrations in mobile phones to signal incoming calls or messages. Today, they play a crucial role in enhancing user experiences, delivering immersive and intuitive interactions that engage the sense of touch. In the gaming industry, for instance, companies like Razer have pioneered advanced haptic feedback systems that elevate gameplay by providing players with tactile sensations corresponding to in-game actions, thereby deepening immersion and responsiveness. Similarly, in the mobile sector, Apple and Google have integrated sophisticated haptic feedback mechanisms into their devices, offering users nuanced tactile responses that enhance usability and accessibility. These implementations range from subtle vibrations that confi rm user inputs to complex patterns that convey specifi c notifi cations or alerts. Emerging immersive technologies from companies like Meta are further pushing the boundaries of haptic applications. By incorporating haptic feedback into virtual and augmented reality systems, these technologies aim to create more realistic and engaging experiences, allowing users to ‘feel’ virtual objects and environments. Each of these ecosystems embodies distinct design philosophies, tailored uniquely to their target audiences and use cases, refl ecting variations in technical constraints, user expectations, and brand identities. The objective of this workshop is to illuminate the underlying reasons behind these diverse haptic strategies—not merely their technical implementations. By gathering representatives from major haptic ecosystems, this workshop will foster open dialogue, highlight common ground, explore divergent methodologies, and spark new avenues for collaboration and standardization within the haptics community. Through this exchange, we aim to deepen our collective understanding of haptic design philosophies and contribute to the advancement of more cohesive and user-centered haptic experiences across platforms.
[T1] Android and Pixel Haptics APIs
Organizer(s):
Hong Z. Tan (Google LLC)
Hong Z. Tan (Google LLC)
Learn to create a rich set of haptic effects on Android devices using the new Piece-wise Linear Envelope (PWLE) APIs in this tutorial. We will cover perception-based API design fundamentals before detailing the basic and advanced Android PWLE APIs. Through practical examples on Pixel phones, you’ll understand how to implement compositions combining haptic primitives and PWLEs. We will also illustrate how to generate real-time PWLE effects through a Pixel-only API extension. Example code and usage patterns will be shared. The session includes live demos and provides attendees the chance to personally experience and compose PWLE effects on Pixel phones.
[T2] Exploring the bHaptics SDK: From Haptic Design to Unity Integration
Organizer(s):
Kiuk Gwak (bHaptics Inc.)
Kiuk Gwak (bHaptics Inc.)
Participants will leave this tutorial with the ability to:
– Understand the various types of haptic feedback that bHaptics devices can deliver.
– Learn how to design haptic feedback using the bHaptics Designer software.
– Explore how this haptic feedback can be integrated into applications using the bHaptics SDK for Unity and other platforms.
This tutorial will be divided into three sessions, each lasting one hour and including a presentation and a Q&A segment:
– Introduction and Haptic Design: An overview of bHaptics hardware and software, along with practical use of the bHaptics Designer software to create haptic feedback.
– bHaptics SDK for Unity and Other Languages: Exploring SDK integration for Unity and other development environments.
– Hands-On Exercises: Participants will apply their learning using the bHaptics Designer software and bHaptics Developer Portal.
During the Hands-On Exercises session, five complete sets of laptops equipped with bHaptics TactSuit and TactGlove will be provided. A team of at least three bHaptics engineers will be available to assist participants and ensure smooth progress during the exercises.
– Understand the various types of haptic feedback that bHaptics devices can deliver.
– Learn how to design haptic feedback using the bHaptics Designer software.
– Explore how this haptic feedback can be integrated into applications using the bHaptics SDK for Unity and other platforms.
This tutorial will be divided into three sessions, each lasting one hour and including a presentation and a Q&A segment:
– Introduction and Haptic Design: An overview of bHaptics hardware and software, along with practical use of the bHaptics Designer software to create haptic feedback.
– bHaptics SDK for Unity and Other Languages: Exploring SDK integration for Unity and other development environments.
– Hands-On Exercises: Participants will apply their learning using the bHaptics Designer software and bHaptics Developer Portal.
During the Hands-On Exercises session, five complete sets of laptops equipped with bHaptics TactSuit and TactGlove will be provided. A team of at least three bHaptics engineers will be available to assist participants and ensure smooth progress during the exercises.
