Carlos Aguiar

About

Carlos Aguiar is an Assistant Professor in Industrial Design at the School of Art + Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is also an Affiliate Faculty of Informatics at the School of Information Sciences. As a founder and director of the Design, Technology, and Society Lab, he leads collaborative efforts to investigate the interaction between humans and artifacts. His research draws on Science and Technology Studies, Philosophy, and Theory of Design perspectives to inform the development of technological artifacts aimed at social and cultural change, while critically engaging with material culture to understand their societal implications. His research practices combine empirical investigation with critical reflection to develop and test emerging technologies manifested as environments, objects, and spaces that enhance human-agent-materials relations. He probes how futures are conceived and sustained, analyzing the role of emerging technologies in shaping tangible futures and understanding their impact on behaviors, interactions, and societal structures. His work also involves investigating the processes and forces involved in the production and appropriation of technological artifacts.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Human–computer interaction
• Developmental psychology
• Telecommunications
• Multimedia
• Programming language
• Psychology
• Engineering
• Mechanical engineering

Selected publications

• Could Socially Interactive Architectural Robotics Promote Restorative Environments?

  International Journal of Social Robotics · 2023-08-25 · 2 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• De-scription at early phases of artifact design

  2022 · 2 citations

  1st authorCorresponding

  This paper reflects on the push and pull forces that go into co-designing an artifact at the early phase of the design process, and which typically lose touch in later design stages. The design method and approach, how users and designers interact, and the relationship between process and result are all interests. The goal is to analyze a case study and reflect on how the change in the user-designer-artifact relationship also changes the mechanisms by which an artifact is shaped. Following the w…

  PublisherDOI

• Grasp the Future: Supporting Grip Strength Assistance with GripAid

  2024-06-26

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  In the quest to augment quality of life and physical capabilities, this study delves into the realm of grip strength, a vital yet often overlooked aspect of human health and dexterity. Recognizing the challenges posed by conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), which significantly impact grip strength, we explore innovative solutions in ergonomic design and human-centered technologies. Our research culminates in the creation of 'GripAid', an electronic device i…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Nurturing Eco-Consciousness: The Journey of the EcoMorph Guardian in Shaping Tomorrow's Stewards.

  2023-06-21

  article1st authorCorresponding

  The environment is suffering tremendous changes. Climate change and global warming are a few of the major problems facing the planet. Various kinds of garbage are ending up in the ocean, which is making Earth's environment deteriorate. After exploring the current needs for recycling in the world, we have decided to design a toy for children ages 5-10 that helps reimagine the scope of environmental education. The combination of haptic feedback in the form of lights, and sounds are utilized to hel…

  PublisherDOI

• Doki: A Multi-sensation Interaction Device that Communicates Emotions

  2022-06-20

  articleSenior author

  During the pandemic, many people have found themselves physically isolated from each other for long periods of time, so online chatting tools have become the main path of communication. However, texts and other chatting tools do not properly transmit the complex emotions hidden behind them. However, texts and other visual information have created an overload of information and made people ignore the complex emotions hidden behind them. Without the stimulation of sensations from face-to-face comm…

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Keith Evan Green

  Cornell University

  5 shared

• Yixiao Wang

  Wuhan University of Technology

  3 shared

• José Poli De Figueiredo

  2 shared

• Lígia Lopes

  Universidade do Porto

  2 shared

• Yuhe Cui

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  2 shared

• Mehmet Ömer Görduysus

  University of Sharjah

  2 shared

• Gilly Leshed

  Cornell University

  2 shared

• Trevor Pinch

  Cornell University

  2 shared

Labs

• Design, Technology, and Society LabPI

Similar researchers at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

• Conrad Bakkerh-11
• Jennifer Amosh-10
• Eric Bensonh-5