Kai Kunze

Kai Kunze is a Professor at Keio University's Graduate School of Media and Governance in Yokohama, Japan, where he leads research in wearable computing and human augmentation. His work bridges engineering, design, and cognitive science to develop cooperative human-computer frameworks that enhance rather than replace human capabilities. Previously, he participated in the Dagstuhl Seminar on Eyewear Computing and has maintained active collaborations with researchers across Japan and internationally.

Dr. Kunze's research focuses on creating wearable technologies that augment human senses and capabilities. His work spans eyewear computing, physiological sensing, activity recognition, and affective interfaces. He investigates how technology can enhance human perception in domains ranging from music performance to sports, with particular interest in how sound and physiological feedback can create new interaction paradigms. His philosophy emphasizes cooperative frameworks between humans and computers, seeking to empower rather than replace human capabilities.

His publication record shows consistent contributions to top-tier conferences including CHI, UbiComp, ISWC, and SIGGRAPH, with a clear progression from foundational work on smart eyewear (2014-2016) toward more sophisticated human augmentation systems (2020-2023). Recent work explores generative AI applications, emotion augmentation, and the implications of commercial AR/VR platforms like Apple Vision Pro. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between computer science, cognitive science, and the arts.

As a mentor, Dr. Kunze has supervised multiple students including Katsutoshi Masai, Shoya Ishimaru, and Katsuma Tanaka, who have contributed to projects on facial expression recognition, activity recognition with smart glasses, and other wearable computing applications.

His research has been supported by competitive grants including a JST Presto (Sakigake) project grant on Open Collective Eyewear, one of few non-Japanese researchers to receive this funding. He actively participates in academic discourse through conference presentations, workshops, and public engagement events like the Miraikan Science Quest in Tokyo.

Dr. Kunze maintains an active research laboratory focused on perception-aware computing, with projects spanning from fundamental sensor development to practical applications for older adults, performers, and athletes. His team explores how physiological data can inform interaction design and how wearable technology can create new forms of human expression and understanding.