Multisensory Interfaces: Where the Senses Meet Technology to Inspire Change
COM3 Level 1
SR12, COM3 01-21
Note: Light refreshments will be provided after the seminar.
Please register here https://forms.gle/jSYi8pWE8nDwRow36 to confirm your participation by Wednesday, 15 October 2025.
Hybrid Mode: Join via - https://nus-sg.zoom.us/j/88316252992?pwd=97uTbXCwfEfQmdQMCyvV2SroofRr2R.1
Abstract:
As digital technology advances, our interactions with systems are moving beyond traditional visual and auditory interfaces. This talk explores the emerging field of multisensory interaction, where senses such as touch, smell, and even taste are integrated to create richer and more meaningful digital experiences. Drawing on examples with a focus on health and wellbeing, I will highlight the transformative potential of these novel interfaces to inspire change in how we live, communicate, and care for ourselves. I will address both the opportunities and challenges of designing multisensory technologies, offering insights into how developments in sensory devices can enable new applications with real-world impact on health, wellbeing, and society at large.
Bio:
Marianna Obrist is Professor of Multisensory Interfaces at the Department of Computer Science, University College London (UCL). She pioneers research on touch, taste, and smell in human-computer interaction (HCI), with applications spanning virtual reality, healthcare, and wellbeing. Her recent projects include the EPSRC/NIHR Smell Care initiative on digital smell training and testing, the EU FET Touchless.AI project on touchless social interaction, and the UKRI Textile Circularity Centre on immersive textile experiences. She is also co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Hynt Labs Limited, a spin-out developing digital scent technologies for personalised sleep solutions. Marianna has published more than 100 articles in leading journals and conferences and is co-author of Multisensory Experiences: Where the Senses Meet Technology (Oxford University Press). Further details can be found at https://www.multisensoryexperiences.co.uk/