01Virtual Humans · Agents · Social Interaction
Intelligent Agents & Social XR
We study embodied agents, avatars, and AI-mediated interaction, including how appearance, behavior, personality, and responsiveness shape trust and social experience.
Research
Human-centered research at the intersection of XR and AI
We study how people perceive, interact, communicate, learn, and make decisions with emerging immersive and intelligent technologies.
Human × XRHuman × AIHuman × AgentsHuman × EnvironmentsHuman × Society
Human × X
Our focus remains human as technology evolves.
At HXIL, “X” represents the evolving counterpart of human interaction—from extended reality and intelligent agents to machines, environments, and other people.
X is the variable. Human is the constant.
Across these changing forms of interaction, we design and study technologies that augment human capability while preserving human judgment, agency, and experience.
Research Themes
What we study
Six interconnected themes define our research across immersive computing, human-AI interaction, and intelligent environments.
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02Perception · Cognition · Experience
Perception, Embodiment & Presence
We investigate how people perceive and experience immersive environments, with a focus on embodiment, spatial perception, social presence, and human behavior.
03Gaze · Voice · Gesture · Physiology
Adaptive & Multimodal Interfaces
We combine multimodal sensing, user modeling, and adaptive interaction to create interfaces that understand and respond to people, tasks, and context.
04XR · Spatial Computing · Context
Immersive Interaction & Pervasive XR
We design context-aware AR, VR, and MR interactions that connect physical and virtual environments and make immersive computing more natural, situated, and useful.
05Trust · Judgment · Learning
Human-AI Collaboration & Decision Support
We design AI-enabled systems that support human judgment, learning, and decision-making while preserving agency, meaningful control, and appropriate reliance.
06Digital Twins · Simulation · Industry
XR Digital Twins & Intelligent Environments
We connect immersive interfaces, AI, analytics, and digital twins to help people understand, operate, train, and collaborate within complex physical systems.
Application Domains
Where our research creates impact
We translate foundational interaction research into technologies for people, teams, and complex real-world settings.
Human Connection & Communication
Avatars, virtual humans, social presence, remote communication, and relationships with intelligent agents.
Healthcare & Clinical Simulation
Clinical decision support, resuscitation, immersive simulation, palliative care, maternal health, and health equity.
Wellbeing & Mental Health
Immersive experiences and intelligent agents that support stress recovery, reflection, connection, and psychological wellbeing.
Education & Training
Immersive learning, pedagogical agents, simulation-based education, public engagement, and skills development.
Industry & Critical Systems
Digital twins, safety, monitoring, training, operations, and knowledge transfer in complex technical environments.