In this talk, I will trace the evolution of our vision-driven design research from Tangible Bits to Radical Atoms and from Telepresence to TeleAbsence over the past 30 years. Through a series of interaction design projects showcased across media arts, design, and scientific communities, I will illustrate how we blend artistic exploration with scientific rigour. Central to this approach is my guiding philosophy: “Be Artistic and Analytic. Be Poetic and Pragmatic.” While mainstream Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research often focuses on functional concerns—such as user needs, practical applications, and usability—our work seeks to transcend these boundaries. Bringing together art, design, science, and technology, we aim to make digital tangible and explore the notion of “presence of absence.” As a culmination, I will present our latest speculative design, TeleAbsence, where the audience will experience illusory communication with a deceased pianist brought to life through the keys of a piano.

https://uist.acm.org/2024/
https://programs.sigchi.org/uist/2024/program/content/175156