Augmented Human Lab

Earlier this month, the Augmented Human Lab hosted a seminar with Dr. Hari Subramonyam, Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Education and Computer Science (by courtesy) at Stanford University, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara.

Dr. Subramonyam presented his research on Script&Shift, a layered writing environment that positions generative AI as a process-aware collaborator—supporting students through brainstorming, structuring, elaboration, and revision while preserving their ownership and critical engagement. He also explored interface paradigms such as modular scripting, rhetorical layering, and semantic scaffolding, and how these reshape the cognitive experience of writing. The session sparked timely conversations around designing AI systems that augment rather than automate student thinking.

A pleasure to host Dr. Subramonyam at Augmented Human Lab Lab and National University of Singapore.

Last month, the Asahi Project team from Augmented Human Lab visited the Asahi Research Institute in Japan 🇯🇵.

The visit featured presentations from both sides, with updates on ongoing work and discussions on future collaboration opportunities. From our lab, Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara and Soundarya Ramesh (Research Fellow) first introduced the broader vision of the Augmented Human Lab, followed by a presentation on the current progress of the Asahi project.

The visit also included a tour of the Asahi Super Dry Museum 🍺 and a cultural stop at the historic Sensoji Temple in Asakusa 🛕.

A big thank you to Takahiro Masuda and the Asahi team for their warm hospitality and continued collaboration!

✨ 3 full papers and 6 Late-Breaking Works (LBWs) from Augmented Human Lab were accepted to CHI 2025! 🇯🇵

Here’s a glimpse of our team in action at PACIFICO Yokohama, Japan, from 26 April to 1 May 2025 🌸📸

1️⃣ Team photo with current members who attended CHI, our PI Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara, and alumni
2️⃣ Yize Wei, PhD student, presenting “Human-Robot Interaction for Blind and Low Vision People: A Systematic Literature Review”
3️⃣–7️⃣ Team members showcasing their CHI LBWs
8️⃣–9️⃣ Social moments with the lab team and collaborators

Grateful to be part of CHI 2025 — the world’s premier HCI conference — where purpose meets passion under this year’s theme of Ikigai.

📚 The 3 full papers accepted to CHI 2025:

🔹 Curious Shorts: Curiosity-Driven Exploration and Learning on Short-Form Video Platforms
Felicia Tan, Research Assistant at Augmented Human Lab (now PhD student at NYU Tandon School of Engineering), is the lead author, co-authored by Ashwin Ram, Moritz Messerschmidt, Hasini Amanda Dissanayake, and Suranga Nanayakkara.
Link to paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706598.3713951

🔹 Human-Robot Interaction for Blind and Low Vision People: A Systematic Literature Review
Yize Wei, PhD student at Augmented Human Lab supervised by Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara, is the lead author, co-authored by Nathan Rocher (Université Toulouse 3), Chitralekha Gupta, Mia Huong Nguyen, Roger Zimmermann (NUS), Wei Tsang Ooi (NUS), Christophe Jouffrais (IPAL, CNRS, Singapore), and Suranga Nanayakkara.
Link to paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706598.3713438

🔹 Who is in Control? Understanding User Agency in AR-assisted Construction Assembly
Xiliu Yang, Visiting Researcher at Augmented Human Lab and Doctoral Researcher at the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC, University of Stuttgart, is the lead author, co-authored by Prasanth Sasikumar, Felix Amtsberg, Achim Menges, Michael Sedlmair, and Suranga Nanayakkara.
Link to paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706598.3713765

📄 The 6 LBWs accepted to CHI 2025:
🔹 Scene-to-Audio: Distant Scene Sonification for Blind and Low Vision People
Link to paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706599.3719849

🔹 Development of a Tangible Interactive Playware for Autism: Through the Lens of Design Science
Link to paper: https://programs.sigchi.org/chi/2025/program/content/194281

🔹 VRSense: An Explainable System to Help Mitigate Cybersickness in VR Games
Link to paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706599.3719891

🔹 Mirai: A Wearable Proactive AI "Inner-Voice" for Contextual Nudging
Link to paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706599.3719881

🔹 LexiLearn: Gamifying Learning for Dyslexia in a Novel Linguistic Context
Link to paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706599.3720169

🔹 GutIO: Toward Sensing and Inducing Gut Feelings with Abdominal Sounds
Link to paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706599.3719826

We were delighted to welcome Mr. Yoichiro Shindo, Corporate Officer and Head of CR&DO Office at Asahi Group Holdings, to the Augmented Human Lab! ✨

Mr. Shindo met with A/Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara and the Asahi team currently working at Augmented Human Lab, where he had a chance to explore the lab's work, and hear about Augmented Human Lab’s vision. 💡

It was a productive and inspiring exchange—looking forward to what lies ahead in our collaboration! 🤝

Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara delivered an inspiring speech at the launch of the NUS HumanITy Challenge this weekend — an innovation competition hosted by the NUS Department of Information Systems and Analytics for pre-university students 🌱💡

The Challenge empowers young minds to harness the power of IT to solve real-world problems for a more sustainable future.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/humanity/

💻This week, we hosted a session with Assistant Professor Samitha Elvitigala from Monash University's Department of Human Centred Computing, chaired by Associate Professor Suranga Nanayakkara. The session was centered on "Augmenting Humans using the Body as an I/O Interface."

Dr. Elvitigala provided an overview of how augmented human interfaces can transform wearable devices into tools that seamlessly integrate with our mind, body, and behavior to enhance our capabilities.

Last week, Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara spoke at the launch of Singapore’s first Llama incubator, an initiative that aligns with our mission at Augmented Human Lab to enhance human-technology interactions.

During his talk, Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara shared insights from AiSee, our spin-off startup at Augmented Human Lab, highlighting how Llama could be utilized to create power tools for blind and low vision users.

🔗 Learn more about the Llama program and its potential to empower startups and SMEs through AI integration: https://singaporemetallamaincubator.splashthat.com

Team Augmented Human Lab is all about balance—mixing work with wellness and team engagement. We wrapped up February with a 5 km evening trek, a perfect way to unwind after work. It was a fun-filled adventure! 🌄👟🌿

Check out some moments captured during our trek 📸

Last week's workshop with SG Enable and NUS Artificial Intelligence Institute explored intersections of AI and Assistive Technology. Engaging discussions and innovative ideas abounded, all focused on empowering persons with disabilities. 🌟💡 Looking forward to the impactful advancements we can achieve together!

🌟✨ Exciting News! 🌟✨

We are thrilled to share that three papers from Augmented Human Lab have been accepted to CHI 2025, the leading conference in Human-Computer Interaction, happening in Yokohama, Japan (26 April – 1 May 2025). This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our researchers and co-authors who worked with Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara 🙌.

📚 Curious Shorts: Curiosity-Driven Exploration and Learning on Short-Form Video Platforms
Felicia Tan, Research Assistant at Augmented Human Lab who is now a PhD student at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, is the lead author of this paper, co-authored by Ashwin Ram, Moritz Messerschmidt, Hasini Amanda Dissanayake, and Suranga Nanayakkara.

📚 Human Robot Interaction for Blind and Low Vision People: A Systematic Literature Review
Yize Wei, PhD student at Augmented Human Lab supervised by Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara, is the lead author of this paper, co-authored by Nathan Rocher (Université Toulouse 3), Chitralekha Gupta, Mia Huong Nguyen, Roger Zimmermann (NUS), Wei Tsang Ooi (NUS), Christophe Jouffrais (IPAL, CNRS, Singapore), and Suranga Nanayakkara.

📚 Who is in Control? Understanding User Agency in AR-assisted Construction Assembly
Xiliu Yang, Visiting Researcher at Augmented Human Lab who is a Doctoral Researcher at the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC, University of Stuttgart, is the lead author of this paper, co-authored by Prasanth Sasikumar, Felix Amtsberg (University of Stuttgart), Achim Menges (University of Stuttgart), Michael Sedlmair (University of Stuttgart), and Suranga Nanayakkara.

We congratulate all the authors and contributors on the acceptance of their papers to CHI 2025 🌍🎉.

Earlier this month, the Augmented Human Lab kicked off the year with the Annual Augmented Human Lab Brainstorm, followed by dinner with the team and two visiting researchers: Cathy Fang from MIT Media Lab and Pete Cleveland from Auckland University of Technology.

Cathy shared insights into her ongoing projects at MIT Media Lab, sparking engaging discussions within the group. Guided by Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara , the brainstorming sessions 🧠 served as a foundation to shape the lab’s focus and direction for an impactful year ahead.

💪💡 With a strong start, we’re set to innovate, collaborate, and make meaningful strides in 2025! 🌍✨

🎉 We are thrilled that our article on Assistive Augmentation has been featured as the cover story of Interactions magazine! 📖

‘Assistive Augmentations' aims to fundamentally enhance human abilities—physical, cognitive, and perceptual—while ensuring that technology becomes a natural extension of the individual. This is the vision at Augmented Human Lab 👉 www.ahlab.org

👏 Congratulations to our Augmented Human Lab researchers and collaborators behind this feature: Assoc. Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara,Chitralekha Gupta, Dixon Prem Daniel, Pattie Maes, and Felicia Fang-Yi Tan!

🔗 Read the article here: https://interactions.acm.org/archive/view/january-february-2025/assistive-augmentation-fundamentally-transforming-human-ability

Assistive Augmentation: Fundamentally Transforming Human Ability | ACM Interactions   The rapid development of smart devices and emerging AI capabilities holds immense potential to transform not only our daily interactions but also our pursuit of life goals. Existing...