Portrait of Hyung Wook Yi

Hyung Wook Yi

Ph.D. student, KAIST

My research focuses on sensor fabrication and toolkits for creating interactive sensing systems. I also work on haptic interfaces.

I studied Advanced Materials Science and Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, with a second major in Culture and Technology.

My previous work includes wearable energy harvesting at NESEL, interaction design projects with industry partners, and a public diplomacy internship at the Embassy of the United States, Seoul.

Beyond research, I write fiction and screenplays. My screenplay Paperball received an honorable mention in the 29th KAIST Literary Award (2024).

Research interests

  • Sensor fabrication
  • Sensing toolkits
  • Haptic interfaces

News

  1. Thermal Crossing has been accepted to ACM ISWC Notes and Briefs.

  2. I started my Ph.D. studies at KAIST’s HCI Tech Lab, advised by Sang Ho Yoon.

  3. I completed my M.S. at KAIST’s Graduate School of Metaverse.

  4. I started my M.S. at KAIST’s Graduate School of Metaverse, advised by Sang Ho Yoon.

  5. I completed my summer research internship at HCI Tech Lab, KAIST.

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Publications

2026

  1. Palm-free thermal device layout and the perceived warmth area created through thermal referral.

    Thermal Crossing: Palm-Free Thermal Rendering with Thermal Illusions

    Hyung Il Yi, Hyung Wook Yi, Sang Ho Yoon

    Thermal Haptics

2024

  1. Temperature and rate of change as cues for perceived distance and velocity in VR.

    Therm-Spatial: Controlling Spatial Perception with Thermal Feedback

    Hyung Il Yi, Hyung Wook Yi, Dong Kyu Kwak, Sang Ho Yoon

    Thermal HapticsXR
  2. Challenges and Opportunities of Game NPC Research Using LLM: A Scoping Review

    Eunbyul Park, Jihun Chae, Kirak Kim, Hyung Wook Yi, Maryam Khalid Lootah, Young Yim Doh

    Korean Game Society

    LLMGames

Projects

Everwhite VR experience and thermo-tactile interface
HapticsXRInteraction Design

Everwhite

Interaction design project · 2022–2023

A shared VR sports experience exploring communication through thermal and tactile feedback.

Finalist · Connecting · IxDA Interaction Awards 2023

Role: UX Designer

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Soundinity workflow: collect and label sounds, train WaveGAN, and compose sound layers in Unity.
AudioAIInteraction Design

Soundinity

Industry collaboration · 2022.06 – 2022.12

An ambient-sound authoring concept developed with Wavedeck, using WaveGAN to generate sounds for virtual objects.

Role: Team Lead

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