Sensory Perception & Interaction Research Group

University of British Columbia

Salma Kashani

I completed my undergraduate study in the Environmental Design program at the University of British Columbia (UBC). During my experience, I focused on designing spaces that would encourage human interaction to create stronger communities. However, I realized the gap between the traditional architecture and technology. I recognized technological knowledge as a major tool that can provide me with the ability to shape and influence my surrounding environment. As a result, I decided to continue my studies as a master student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at UBC. Later, my interest in computer science, design and the psychology of human behaviour led to my collaboration with the SPIN lab.

And then I lived happily ever after :)

Year Departed: 
2018

Matthew Chun

Matthew is a UBC student that has recently graduated in 2015 with a B.A. double major in Computer Science and Cognitive Systems (Brain and Cognition Stream). Matthew is interested in expanding how individuals can perceive themselves or others differently using a variety of technologies such as haptics, virtual/augmented reality, etc. 

Year Departed: 
2020

Paul Bucci

Paul studies emotional interaction with robots. He holds a BA in Visual Arts, and both a BSc and MSc in Computer Science.

Year Departed: 
2020

Laura Cang

cang@cs.ubc.ca

Laura's interest in social robotics and touch interaction brought her to the SPIN lab to build the touch recognition engine of a touch-sensitive robots designed for therapeutic use, aka the CuddleBot and family of CuddleBits.  Her PhD project builds on this earlier focus - developing machine recognition and interpretation of social touch behaviour - and has evolved to feature emotion modelling and recognition of emotion transition in genuine and spontaneous emotion experiences. Laura is collaborating with Meta Reality Labs investigating machine mediated touch for communicating haptic messages.

Michael Phan-Ba

Year Departed: 
2015

Dave Ternes

David received his Master's degree in SPIN in 2007, and went on to a scintillating career in industry...

Year Departed: 
2007

Andrew Chan

Andrew received his Master's degree in 2004, co-supervised by Karon MacLean and Joanna McGrenere, and went on to work at HSBC.

Year Departed: 
2004

Matthew Pan

Matthew completed his Master's in 2012, supervised by Elizabeth Croft and Karon MacLean. He was part of both CARIS (Mech) and SPIN labs.

Year Departed: 
2012

Brad Swerdfeger

Year Departed: 
2009

Gokhan Himmetoglu

Year Departed: 
2011