Keynote

Sang Ho Yoon

Sept. 26, Afternoon

Beyond Glasses: Future Directions for Human-centered XR Interactions

Abstract

The advancement in sensor/actuator hardware has enabled the development of wearable interfaces for AR/VR beyond. However, understanding user intent and providing appropriate feedback remain significant challenges for us when going beyond HMD or glasses for XR interactions. To address this, I have explored methods to unlock the capability of understanding the user’s intents. Additionally, I have explored haptic-based interaction to offer tailored feedback for AR/VR experiences. In this talk, I will present our lab’s research on leveraging biosignals to offer novel input techniques such as context-aware hand gestures, hand pressure estimation, and continuous input with microgestures. I will then present multiple haptic interaction frameworks that fulfill the gap between human perception and intended interaction design to promote the integration of haptic feedback into AR/VR environments for HCI practitioners and end users.

Short Bio

Sang Ho Yoon is an Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Culture Technology (affiliated with the School of Computing, Graduate School of Metaverse, and Robotics Program) at KAIST, where he leads KAIST’s Human-centered Interactive Technologies Lab (HCI Tech Lab) as part of the HCI@KAIST. Before joining KAIST, Sang Ho was a research engineer at Microsoft Applied Sciences and a Principal Engineer at Samsung Research. His research has focused on promoting natural interactions by enabling novel sensing techniques and haptic experiences with the aid of applied machine learning for next-generation XR interfaces.

Kangsoo Kim

Sept. 27, Morning

Designing Intelligent, Empathic, and Accessible XR Experiences for Human-Centered Futures

Abstract

As technology increasingly merges the physical and digital worlds, eXtended Reality (XR) is redefining how humans interact, learn, and work. This keynote explores the transformative potential of XR technologies, with a focus on designing experiences that are intelligent, empathic, and accessible, with special attention to interactive agent systems in XR. The talk will be structured around three pillars: (1) intelligent and context-aware interfaces that integrate seamlessly into real-world applications, (2) socially responsive XR systems that foster empathy and trust, and (3) accessible and inclusive designs that support diverse user populations. Through case studies in healthcare, education, and industrial operations, we will examine how AI-augmented virtual assistants, digital twins, and multimodal feedback systems are enhancing user experience, cognitive performance, and well-being.

Finally, we will discuss emerging trends—including haptics, digital twins, and AI-driven contextual systems—that are shaping the next generation of human-computer interaction. Taken together, these innovations demonstrate how XR is not merely augmenting human capabilities but actively redefining what it means to build human-centered futures across digital and physical environments.

For more information, visit https://www.hxi-lab.ca/.

Short bio

Dr. Kangsoo Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering at the University of Calgary, where he leads the Human-X Interaction (HXI) Lab. His interdisciplinary research spans eXtended Reality (XR), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and intelligent virtual agents, with a focus on enhancing user experiences through empathic, adaptive, and inclusive systems. Dr. Kim earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Central Florida (UCF), where his dissertation explored physical-virtual interactions to improve social presence in XR. He has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Delaware and UCF's Synthetic Reality Lab (SREAL). With over 2,500 citations and a robust publication record in top-tier venues such as IEEE VR, IEEE ISMAR, and ACM VRST, Dr. Kim has been recognized with multiple Best Paper awards. His research applications range from healthcare training and decision support systems to industrial operations and inclusive XR experiences for marginalized communities. He actively contributes to the XR research community as an editor, workshop organizer, and program chair for leading conferences.

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