Donald Degraen

Donald Degraen is an Assistant Professor and Lecturer at the University of Canterbury, affiliated with the HIT Lab NZ, a leading research center in New Zealand. His work focuses on the intersection of haptics, fabrication, and virtual reality, with a particular emphasis on designing touch experiences and novel interaction methods. His research explores tools and techniques for generating tactile textures, sensory substitution for object detection, and collaborative haptic design.

Donald’s research spans immersive technologies, including studies on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications such as cycling exergames, wind-based haptic feedback, and eco-friendly gamification. He has contributed to frameworks for integrating smart devices into VR environments and enhancing tactile experiences through 3D-printed metamaterials. His work often bridges physical and digital realms, emphasizing sustainability and user-centered design.

Key projects include TactStyle (generative AI for tactile textures), Spatial Haptics (sensory substitution methods), and Collaborative Haptic Experience Design (on-body vibrotactile patterns). Donald actively collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, leveraging his expertise in both technical and applied aspects of human-computer interaction.

His research has been published in top-tier venues, with recent contributions exploring adaptive feedback systems, pseudo-force rendering in VR, and gamified eco-behavioral interventions. Donald is also involved in prototyping tools like AmbiPlant and Vrysmart, which aim to enhance real-world interactions through ambient and smart technology integration.