Pedro Lopes
@pedrolopes.org
Associate Professor at University of Chicago, Computer Science. Runs the Human-Computer Integration Lab (https://lab.plopes.org) & also a musician.
We are hiring PhD students in our Human-Computer Integration lab at the University of Chicago.
You can apply via UChicago:
1. Computer Science (deadline Dec 11)
2. Data Science (Dec 16)
3. Neuroscience Institute's CNS (Dec 3)
... Join us to work on how future devices will integrate with the body!
You can apply via UChicago:
1. Computer Science (deadline Dec 11)
2. Data Science (Dec 16)
3. Neuroscience Institute's CNS (Dec 3)
... Join us to work on how future devices will integrate with the body!
November 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
We are hiring PhD students in our Human-Computer Integration lab at the University of Chicago.
You can apply via UChicago:
1. Computer Science (deadline Dec 11)
2. Data Science (Dec 16)
3. Neuroscience Institute's CNS (Dec 3)
... Join us to work on how future devices will integrate with the body!
You can apply via UChicago:
1. Computer Science (deadline Dec 11)
2. Data Science (Dec 16)
3. Neuroscience Institute's CNS (Dec 3)
... Join us to work on how future devices will integrate with the body!
I get a bunch of emails/comments about my single-take videos we do to showcase our lab's work, so we gathered them in one page: lab.plopes.org/videos.html (including an annotated history of how we started making these, and how they transformed over the years, to become more improv!)
November 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I get a bunch of emails/comments about my single-take videos we do to showcase our lab's work, so we gathered them in one page: lab.plopes.org/videos.html (including an annotated history of how we started making these, and how they transformed over the years, to become more improv!)
Our lab looks at this from many angles, namely safety!
When technology can act through the body, we must design for: agency and safety. (We publish often on how to keep agency!) The goal isn’t to replace humans.
It’s to augment our abilities while keeping in the driver’s seat 9/
When technology can act through the body, we must design for: agency and safety. (We publish often on how to keep agency!) The goal isn’t to replace humans.
It’s to augment our abilities while keeping in the driver’s seat 9/
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Our lab looks at this from many angles, namely safety!
When technology can act through the body, we must design for: agency and safety. (We publish often on how to keep agency!) The goal isn’t to replace humans.
It’s to augment our abilities while keeping in the driver’s seat 9/
When technology can act through the body, we must design for: agency and safety. (We publish often on how to keep agency!) The goal isn’t to replace humans.
It’s to augment our abilities while keeping in the driver’s seat 9/
he future of computing isn’t just about faster chips.
It’s about the relationship with the body. For instance, what if we accelerate reaction time? (We have done this with muscle stimulation and brain stimulation and made it to the world records: guinnessworldrecords.com/world-record...). 8/
It’s about the relationship with the body. For instance, what if we accelerate reaction time? (We have done this with muscle stimulation and brain stimulation and made it to the world records: guinnessworldrecords.com/world-record...). 8/
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
he future of computing isn’t just about faster chips.
It’s about the relationship with the body. For instance, what if we accelerate reaction time? (We have done this with muscle stimulation and brain stimulation and made it to the world records: guinnessworldrecords.com/world-record...). 8/
It’s about the relationship with the body. For instance, what if we accelerate reaction time? (We have done this with muscle stimulation and brain stimulation and made it to the world records: guinnessworldrecords.com/world-record...). 8/
Paul asked me about where this sits relative to @neuralink? Key difference:
💡 Our work = wearable = removable.
🧠 Neuralink = implanted = surgery
Implants can be transformative, but they raise different risks compared to integrated wearables.
p.s.: yes, we do brain-stim too. 7/
💡 Our work = wearable = removable.
🧠 Neuralink = implanted = surgery
Implants can be transformative, but they raise different risks compared to integrated wearables.
p.s.: yes, we do brain-stim too. 7/
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Paul asked me about where this sits relative to @neuralink? Key difference:
💡 Our work = wearable = removable.
🧠 Neuralink = implanted = surgery
Implants can be transformative, but they raise different risks compared to integrated wearables.
p.s.: yes, we do brain-stim too. 7/
💡 Our work = wearable = removable.
🧠 Neuralink = implanted = surgery
Implants can be transformative, but they raise different risks compared to integrated wearables.
p.s.: yes, we do brain-stim too. 7/
Imagine bidirectional neural interfaces that guide your body the way a mentor would:
• correct when you hit the wrong piano key
• teach how to use a tool you’ve never seen
• learn physical skills by feeling, not just videos
(these are real papers: lab.plopes.org) 6/
• correct when you hit the wrong piano key
• teach how to use a tool you’ve never seen
• learn physical skills by feeling, not just videos
(these are real papers: lab.plopes.org) 6/
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Imagine bidirectional neural interfaces that guide your body the way a mentor would:
• correct when you hit the wrong piano key
• teach how to use a tool you’ve never seen
• learn physical skills by feeling, not just videos
(these are real papers: lab.plopes.org) 6/
• correct when you hit the wrong piano key
• teach how to use a tool you’ve never seen
• learn physical skills by feeling, not just videos
(these are real papers: lab.plopes.org) 6/
In my lab at UChicago, we ask: 👉 What happens when computers stop merely interacting with us…
…and start integrating with us? You can read more about this at lab.plopes.org since all our research is centered around this question. 5/
…and start integrating with us? You can read more about this at lab.plopes.org since all our research is centered around this question. 5/
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
In my lab at UChicago, we ask: 👉 What happens when computers stop merely interacting with us…
…and start integrating with us? You can read more about this at lab.plopes.org since all our research is centered around this question. 5/
…and start integrating with us? You can read more about this at lab.plopes.org since all our research is centered around this question. 5/
Smartwatches changed how we measure our bodies.
But what if future wearables could also act through our bodies—moving muscles, correcting skills, even teaching us to play the piano? In fact we recently made a smartwatch that can move your fingers: lab.plopes.org/published/20... 3/
But what if future wearables could also act through our bodies—moving muscles, correcting skills, even teaching us to play the piano? In fact we recently made a smartwatch that can move your fingers: lab.plopes.org/published/20... 3/
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Smartwatches changed how we measure our bodies.
But what if future wearables could also act through our bodies—moving muscles, correcting skills, even teaching us to play the piano? In fact we recently made a smartwatch that can move your fingers: lab.plopes.org/published/20... 3/
But what if future wearables could also act through our bodies—moving muscles, correcting skills, even teaching us to play the piano? In fact we recently made a smartwatch that can move your fingers: lab.plopes.org/published/20... 3/
Excellent talk by @blaiseaguera.bsky.social at our Data Science Institute ( @dsi-uchicago.bsky.social) at the University of Chicago! (Completely packed audience).
November 16, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Excellent talk by @blaiseaguera.bsky.social at our Data Science Institute ( @dsi-uchicago.bsky.social) at the University of Chicago! (Completely packed audience).
Giving a vision talk today at #uist2025 titled "What of the I in HCI stands for Integration?"
... Hope to see you all soon at @acmuist.bsky.social
(Will post slides later at lab.plopes.org)
... Hope to see you all soon at @acmuist.bsky.social
(Will post slides later at lab.plopes.org)
September 29, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Giving a vision talk today at #uist2025 titled "What of the I in HCI stands for Integration?"
... Hope to see you all soon at @acmuist.bsky.social
(Will post slides later at lab.plopes.org)
... Hope to see you all soon at @acmuist.bsky.social
(Will post slides later at lab.plopes.org)
Playing at @dotolim.bsky.social tonight! If you are in Seoul come by for one turntable but multiple needles kind of footwork.
September 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Playing at @dotolim.bsky.social tonight! If you are in Seoul come by for one turntable but multiple needles kind of footwork.
UChicago CS' presence at #UIST2025, with six papers (from text visualization to brain stimulation!) and many more activities (two workshops etc)!
If you are at @acmuist.bsky.social come say hi. Many of us will be there including myself, Yudai Tanaka , Ken Nakagaki's team, Sam, etc!
If you are at @acmuist.bsky.social come say hi. Many of us will be there including myself, Yudai Tanaka , Ken Nakagaki's team, Sam, etc!
September 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
UChicago CS' presence at #UIST2025, with six papers (from text visualization to brain stimulation!) and many more activities (two workshops etc)!
If you are at @acmuist.bsky.social come say hi. Many of us will be there including myself, Yudai Tanaka , Ken Nakagaki's team, Sam, etc!
If you are at @acmuist.bsky.social come say hi. Many of us will be there including myself, Yudai Tanaka , Ken Nakagaki's team, Sam, etc!
Stelarc being stellar!
September 24, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Stelarc being stellar!
Our #UIST2025 workshop "Toward Everyday Perceptual and Physiological Augmentation" packs a day of fun activities, which you can read in detail here: everyday-augmentation.github.io if that's not enough to convince you... then check out our keynote by Thad Starner ! see you at @acmuist.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Our #UIST2025 workshop "Toward Everyday Perceptual and Physiological Augmentation" packs a day of fun activities, which you can read in detail here: everyday-augmentation.github.io if that's not enough to convince you... then check out our keynote by Thad Starner ! see you at @acmuist.bsky.social
Not quite, as our new paper shows:
1️⃣ People can exhibit altered hand movements after leaving VR! (e.g., imagine missing an emergency button!)
2️⃣ People can confused VR objects and real objects (e.g., reaching out to the virtual fire extinguisher) 3/5
1️⃣ People can exhibit altered hand movements after leaving VR! (e.g., imagine missing an emergency button!)
2️⃣ People can confused VR objects and real objects (e.g., reaching out to the virtual fire extinguisher) 3/5
September 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Not quite, as our new paper shows:
1️⃣ People can exhibit altered hand movements after leaving VR! (e.g., imagine missing an emergency button!)
2️⃣ People can confused VR objects and real objects (e.g., reaching out to the virtual fire extinguisher) 3/5
1️⃣ People can exhibit altered hand movements after leaving VR! (e.g., imagine missing an emergency button!)
2️⃣ People can confused VR objects and real objects (e.g., reaching out to the virtual fire extinguisher) 3/5
I have the same shirt ;) (because I got it from you). Also the person next to you has a genius shirt
September 5, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I have the same shirt ;) (because I got it from you). Also the person next to you has a genius shirt
A reflection about our lab's participation at @chi.acm.org : lab.plopes.org/essays/chi2025 It was a really special conference, with new PhD students presenting and some graduating!
P.s.: Yeah, I was a bit behind (we're closer to #CHI2026 deadline than #CHI2025 itself) but never too late?
P.s.: Yeah, I was a bit behind (we're closer to #CHI2026 deadline than #CHI2025 itself) but never too late?
August 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
A reflection about our lab's participation at @chi.acm.org : lab.plopes.org/essays/chi2025 It was a really special conference, with new PhD students presenting and some graduating!
P.s.: Yeah, I was a bit behind (we're closer to #CHI2026 deadline than #CHI2025 itself) but never too late?
P.s.: Yeah, I was a bit behind (we're closer to #CHI2026 deadline than #CHI2025 itself) but never too late?
Want to work with one of the best thinkers out there, with endless creativity and super supportive environment in futuristic Taipei? 😎
My former PhD student, (now Prof.) @tengshanyuan.info just started the Dexterous Interaction Lab @ NTU lab.tengshanyuan.info #hci #haptics #phd #academicChatter 😍
My former PhD student, (now Prof.) @tengshanyuan.info just started the Dexterous Interaction Lab @ NTU lab.tengshanyuan.info #hci #haptics #phd #academicChatter 😍
July 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Want to work with one of the best thinkers out there, with endless creativity and super supportive environment in futuristic Taipei? 😎
My former PhD student, (now Prof.) @tengshanyuan.info just started the Dexterous Interaction Lab @ NTU lab.tengshanyuan.info #hci #haptics #phd #academicChatter 😍
My former PhD student, (now Prof.) @tengshanyuan.info just started the Dexterous Interaction Lab @ NTU lab.tengshanyuan.info #hci #haptics #phd #academicChatter 😍
Here's an essay I wrote a while back arguing that there's significant new discoveries at the interface between Human-Computer Interaction (#HCI) and #Neuroscience : lab.plopes.org/essays/hcine... and that's why I am organizing a meeting with 20+ minds, starting tomorrow (in japan)!
June 21, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Here's an essay I wrote a while back arguing that there's significant new discoveries at the interface between Human-Computer Interaction (#HCI) and #Neuroscience : lab.plopes.org/essays/hcine... and that's why I am organizing a meeting with 20+ minds, starting tomorrow (in japan)!
A pleasure to host Jun Rekimoto at the Human-Computer Integration Lab (lab.plopes.org) where he gave a talk about "Human-AI Integration". Inspiring as always and thanks for staying for a full day of demos and giving insightful feedback to many of our lab members. (thanks Romain for co-organizing!)
June 18, 2025 at 11:15 PM
A pleasure to host Jun Rekimoto at the Human-Computer Integration Lab (lab.plopes.org) where he gave a talk about "Human-AI Integration". Inspiring as always and thanks for staying for a full day of demos and giving insightful feedback to many of our lab members. (thanks Romain for co-organizing!)
Yun Ho is a first year PhD student and Siya Choudhary was my high school intern (she's first author on this paper!). They've worked so hard on this incredible project and #CHI2025 demo, advised by the brilliant Romain Nith who's done so so much work behind the scenes!
April 30, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Yun Ho is a first year PhD student and Siya Choudhary was my high school intern (she's first author on this paper!). They've worked so hard on this incredible project and #CHI2025 demo, advised by the brilliant Romain Nith who's done so so much work behind the scenes!
Finally, I want to highlight @xjasminelu.bsky.social has been doing a lot of impressive work on this topic and in fact has received a special recognition by ACM @acm-sigchi.bsky.social this year!!! Congrats once again to her for this! 4/4
April 28, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Finally, I want to highlight @xjasminelu.bsky.social has been doing a lot of impressive work on this topic and in fact has received a special recognition by ACM @acm-sigchi.bsky.social this year!!! Congrats once again to her for this! 4/4
@xjasminelu.bsky.social presenting the latest work of her PhD on computational recycling, this system uses computer vision (#CV) to fit a new circuit into an existing PCB made for a different purpose or device. It allows a new form of e-waste reusing! #CHI2025 #Sustainability 1/4
April 28, 2025 at 6:21 AM
@xjasminelu.bsky.social presenting the latest work of her PhD on computational recycling, this system uses computer vision (#CV) to fit a new circuit into an existing PCB made for a different purpose or device. It allows a new form of e-waste reusing! #CHI2025 #Sustainability 1/4
Plenty of ways to provide feedback towards a better SIGCHI these are the events at #CHI2025 where you can come and join the discussion. Thanks @nehakumar.bsky.social and @acm-sigchi.bsky.social
April 28, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Plenty of ways to provide feedback towards a better SIGCHI these are the events at #CHI2025 where you can come and join the discussion. Thanks @nehakumar.bsky.social and @acm-sigchi.bsky.social