DoctorDonald Degraen

I am a multi-disciplinary researcher in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) at the Human Interface Technology Lab NZ (HIT Lab NZ). My research lies on the intersection of haptic perception, digital fabrication and Virtual Reality (VR). I build and investigate physical artifacts and representations that enhance our digital experiences. Specifically, I build fabrication methods for replicating and procedurally generating objects and structures that have a desired feeling, study user-centric design processes for creating such haptic experiences, and investigate physical representations of digital content.

My personal expertise lies with investigating human factors of virtual environments and their application to interaction design. My projects involved physical prototyping, e.g., 3D-Printing (FDM, SLA, SLS), Laser Cutting, Microcontroller Programming (Arduino, ESP32, D1mini, Raspberry Pi), digital prototyping, e.g., 2D Sketching (Inkscape, Affinity, Adobe suite), and 3D Modeling and Design (Fusion360, Blender, Unity), programming (C#, C++, C, Python, Java, JavaScript), and backend and database design (NodeJS, PostgreSQL, MySQL). Furthermore, I have actively applied (research) methods such as user centered and participatory design, qualitative and quantitative research, statistical analysis, psychophysical experiment design, numerical and statistical multi-dimensional analysis, and I have experience in research proposal writing.