Research Scientist and School of Industrial Design faculty member Matthew Swarts, along with 12 industrial design and human computer interaction students, recently took a trip to Singapore to participate in a sensory augmentation workshop at the National University of Singapore’s Connective Ubiquitous Technology and Embodiments (CUTE) Center.

The five-day seminar included an overview of the work being done at the CUTE Center, which is directed by Georgia Tech College of Architecture and College of Computing professor Ellen Do. Projects ranged from place-based interactive mobile applications, augmented reality mediated museums, electro-stimulated tasting, and microwaveable folding origami.

Mr. Swarts conducted several tutorials in the workshop on using microelectronics to develop sensory augmentation devices with electrotactile, vibratory, and acoustic stimulation. The students, who were awarded travel grants based upon project proposals, were then given the opportunity to present the project that they would be developing over the remainder of the workshop.  In addition, they served as reviewers to an undergraduate class on digital wellness for children and participated in a CUTE Center study on the effects of using augmented reality in museums.

The CUTE Center is dedicated to researching and developing media that uses multi-sensory connection technology to engage children, families, and friends in playful, interactive dialogue. It is a research center that is a partnership between Keio University's Graduate School of Media Design and the National University of Singapore.