Michael Haller is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy, where he serves as founder and director of the Media Interaction Lab. Based at NOI Techpark, his work focuses on next-generation human-computer interfaces, leading a team of over 10 researchers and students in developing innovative interaction technologies for automotive and wearable applications. He earned his Dipl.-Ing. (1997), Dr. techn. (2001), and Habilitation (2007) degrees from Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Austria. Haller's research centers on Human-Computer Interaction with specialized expertise in Smart Textile Interfaces, Physical Prototyping, and Ubiquitous Computing. His lab pioneers user-centered design of next-generation interfaces through industry collaborations with BMW, KTM, SEFAR, and Tratter Engineering. Current work emphasizes sustainable materials for flexible sensors, touchless interaction, and reducing plastic components in automotive interfaces while maintaining ergonomic functionality. His 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a clear trajectory toward sustainable sensor technologies, particularly biodegradable substrates (wood, animal-based, stone, gelatin) for temperature and pressure sensing. These works bridge materials science with HCI, targeting automotive interfaces, health monitoring, and eco-fashion through textile-based solutions that prioritize environmental sustainability without sacrificing performance. His scientific accolades include: Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship Award Google Research Award Europrix Top Talent Award Best ACM SIGGRAPH Emerging Technologies Award Microsoft Imagine Cup 7 Best Paper and Honorable Mention Awards at ACM CHI and ACM UIST Haller directs major research projects including SmartCover (2024-2026) for developing smart laminated dashboards that replace plastic components with gesture-based textile interfaces, and iPlayground (2024-2026) establishing an industrial-scale smart textile lab. He mentors researchers in prototyping and empirical evaluation, with industry grants supporting the development of washable touchless fabrics and next-generation vehicle interfaces. His work bridges academic research and commercial product development through direct industry partnerships. The Media Interaction Lab operates from NOI Techpark with industrial knitting/sewing machines, confocal microscopes for surface analysis, and a collaborative Idea Space for rapid prototyping. Current infrastructure enables development of warp-knitted smart textiles for automotive consoles and sustainable fashion applications, focusing on reducing plastic waste while creating intuitive touchless interaction experiences through magnetoresistive and inductive sensing technologies.







