Daniel Harley

Daniel Harley serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo's Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, with cross-appointment status across Faculty units. His academic home bridges design, business, and technology disciplines within this specialized school.

Harley's research critically examines virtual reality through multiple lenses: social dynamics in gaming environments, sensory design innovations, and the political economy of VR platforms. His work consistently challenges assumptions about embodiment, accessibility, and power structures in virtual spaces, with recent publications analyzing corporate framing (Apple Vision Pro), social inequality, and sensory reproduction in art contexts.

Analysis of his 25 publications (2014-2025) reveals an evolution from technical implementations (2016-2018) toward critical social analysis (2023-2025). Key trends include: 1) Investigating how casual gamers navigate social expectations 2) Deconstructing corporate narratives around VR 'newness' 3) Designing for mental health and sensory inclusion 4) Exposing experiential disparities based on identity. His scholarship occupies the intersection of HCI, media studies, and critical design.