HCI · HAPTICS · VIRTUAL REALITY · HUMAN AUGMENTATION

Jiayi Xu

I design interactions that understand the human body — and adapt to it.

Project Assistant Professor
Information Somatics Lab (Inami Lab), RCAST, The University of Tokyo

I turn a quantitative understanding of human perception into new interaction principles — from perceptual models to wearable devices to public deployment. Temperature is my core medium, and I extend the same approach to embodied interaction and human-state sensing.

Email Research map Publications MoHeat Evo ↗
Portrait of Jiayi Xu
● 24.6°C → ● 36.8°C
12Peer-reviewed works in 2026
up from 5 in 2025
3First-author top journals
IEEE TVCG · IEEE ToH ×2
2JSPS grants as PI
Early-Career · Start-up
4Patents
+ industry research → CES 2026
00

News

01

Research map

One question, three connected directions.

CORE QUESTION

How can we quantitatively understand human perception and the body — and turn that understanding into interaction that adapts to people?

Understand humans⇄Design adaptive technology
OUTPUT → SENSESA

Thermal & sensory display

Fast, non-contact, precisely controllable thermal feedback.

  • Cold display models ToH 2022 · 2023
  • ChillFactor in VR headsets TVCG · IEEE VR
  • Facial thermal remapping EuroHaptics
  • MoHeat → MoHeat Evo CES · SIGGRAPH Asia
THE BODY ITSELFB

Embodied interaction & augmentation

Designing how the body moves, extends and feels itself.

  • Armonii wearable robotic arms UIST 2026
  • AdaptiveFly embodied locomotion AHs · SA E-Tech
  • NailShear directional skin-stretch cues AsiaHaptics
INPUT ← BODYC

Human-state sensing & AI

Reading the body to close the loop.

  • Synchro-Thermography ~10 mK facial sensing Sci. Rep.
  • PhaseMix gait-based diagnosis IEEE Access
  • Soft-object grasping with learned deformation AMC

C measures the body → A presents to the senses → B reshapes what the body can do → back to C

Method · how a thermal interface is built

  1. 01Stimulus generationVortex airflow, LED radiation, mist evaporation
  2. 02Physical predictionSkin-temperature model, RMSE 0.16 °C
  3. 03Perceptual controlTemporal patterns: cold without net cooling
  4. 04Wearable integrationHMD, headphones: −2.6 °C / 5 s, 0.66 s onset
  5. 05DeploymentIndustry research, patents, CES 2026
02

Highlight

From lab to society.

Jiayi Xu wearing MoHeat Evo thermal headphones glowing blue
PILLAR A · JOINT RESEARCH WITH SUNTORY

MoHeat Evo

A directional thermal headphone for spatial audio — the full method in one device, from LED heating and ethanol-mist cooling to per-ear control, built with Suntory and shown at CES 2026.

  • CES 2026
  • SIGGRAPH Asia 2026 E-Tech
  • NHK WORLD
  • Patent filed
Visit the project site ↗
03

Research trajectory

From one cold airflow to a research program. ● Thermal● Embodiment● Sensing

  1. Vortex-tube non-contact cold displayIEEE WHC 2019
  2. Intensity-adjustable cold display + skin-temperature modelIEEE ToHHeatMagic: vortex + thermal radiationAsiaHaptics
  3. Low-residual-heat cold sensation via two heat-transfer pathsIEEE ToHSpatially continuous cold airflowIEEE WHC
  4. MoHeat: modular high-response thermal platformAsiaHapticsPhaseMix: gait-based spinal-deformity classificationIEEE AccessDeformation estimation for soft-object graspingIEEE AMC
  5. Feel What You See: visual heat cues → instant thermal feedbackSIGGRAPH AsiaSynchro-Thermography: ~10 mK facial sensingSICE · Sci. Rep.360° cold via Coandă airflowIEEE WHC
  6. ChillFactor: mist-evaporation cooling in VR headsetsIEEE TVCG · VRFull-body heat via facial thermal remappingEuroHapticsMoHeat Evo: directional thermal headphoneCES · SIGGRAPH AsiaArmonii: wearable robotic armsACM UISTAdaptiveFly · haptic guidance · spectral VR designAugmented Humans ×3
04

What’s next

Connecting the three directions into one closed loop.

  1. 01From effects to principles

    Model how temperature integrates with sound, vision and touch, so multisensory experiences can be designed rather than tuned.

  2. 02Interfaces that adapt to the body

    Combine sensing (C), display (A) and embodiment (B) into systems that respond to each person’s state in real time.

  3. 03Out of the lab

    Validate in communication, media and healthcare with industry partners — the path MoHeat Evo opened.

05

Publications

Peer-reviewed. ★ selected · J. Xu marks me.

  1. JournalThermal
    2026

    ★J. Xu, C. A. Fan, Y. Guo, Y. Kuroda and M. Inami. “ChillFactor: A Highly-Responsive Non-Contact Cooling Feedback Interface for VR Headsets Based on Alcohol Mist Evaporation.” IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 32(5), 4041–4050, 2026. DOI

  2. JournalSensing
    2025

    N. Kotani, K. Sakurada, J. Xu, M. Inami and Y. Monnai. “Monitoring the effect of alcohol intake via facial temperature variations using thermography synchronized with heartbeat.” Scientific Reports, 15, 32249, 2025. DOI

  3. JournalThermal
    2025

    名嘉村和真, 伊藤天翔, 許佳禕, 長谷川晶一, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「皮膚温度変化の時間積分量に基づく温覚制御手法の開発」ヒューマンインタフェース学会論文誌, 27(3), 2025.

  4. JournalSensing
    2024

    K. Chen, J. Xu, T. Asada, K. Miura, K. Sakashita, T. Sunami, H. Kadone, M. Yamazaki, N. Ienaga and Y. Kuroda. “PhaseMix: A Periodic Motion Fusion Method for Adult Spinal Deformity Classification.” IEEE Access, 12, 152358–152376, 2024. DOI

  5. JournalThermal
    2023

    ★J. Xu, S. Hasegawa, K. Kiyokawa, N. Ienaga and Y. Kuroda. “Integration of Independent Heat Transfer Mechanisms for Non-Contact Cold Sensation Presentation with Low Residual Heat.” IEEE Transactions on Haptics, 16(4), 770–784, 2023. DOI arXiv

  6. JournalThermal
    2022

    ★J. Xu, S. Yoshimoto, N. Ienaga and Y. Kuroda. “Intensity-Adjustable Non-Contact Cold Sensation Presentation Based on the Vortex Effect.” IEEE Transactions on Haptics, 15(3), 592–602, 2022. DOI arXiv

  7. ConferenceEmbodiment
    2026

    ★C. A. Fan, H. Zhou, A. Maekawa, T. Sasaki, J. Xu and M. Inami. “Armonii: Motion Design for Wearable Supernumerary Robotic Arms Toward Comfort and Embodiment.” ACM UIST 2026.

  8. ConferenceThermal
    2026

    ★J. Xu, T. Lei, C. A. Fan and M. Inami. “Achieving Full-Body Heat Perception in VR through Spatially Congruent Facial Thermal Remapping.” EuroHaptics 2026. DOI

  9. ConferenceThermal
    2026

    J. Xu, C. A. Fan, Y. Guo, Y. Kuroda and M. Inami. “ChillFactor: A Highly-Responsive Non-Contact Cooling Feedback Interface for VR Headsets Based on Alcohol Mist Evaporation.” IEEE VR 2026. DOI

  10. ConferenceEmbodiment
    2026

    Y. Zheng, J. Xu, C. A. Fan and Y. Monnai. “A Haptic Guidance Method that Conveys Motion Error Magnitude via Haptic Localization Around the Arm.” Augmented Humans 2026, 41–51. DOI

  11. ConferenceEmbodiment
    2026

    L. Kong, A. Dechaux, M. Yoshida, H. Asahi, J. Xu, G. Gowrishankar and M. Inami. “AdaptiveFly: Bio-Congruent Adaptation for Embodied 3D Locomotion.” Augmented Humans 2026, 345–356. DOI

  12. ConferenceEmbodiment
    2026

    H. Wang, H. Asahi, R. Shao, K. Sakurada, H. Saito, J. Xu, K. Kondo, T. Tokoro and M. Inami. “A Design Framework for Virtual Space based on Spectral Relationships.” Augmented Humans 2026, 141–152. DOI

  13. ConferenceSensing
    2025

    N. Kotani, K. Sakurada, J. Xu, M. Inami and Y. Monnai. “Synchro-Thermography: Monitoring ~10 mK Facial Temperature Changes with Heartbeat Referencing for Physiological Sensing.” SICE Annual Conference 2025, 1249–1254. DOI

  14. ConferenceThermal
    2025

    K. Akimoto, J. Xu, A. Kaneko, N. Ienaga and Y. Kuroda. “360-Degree Cold Sensation Presentation via Encircling Airflow Based on the Coandă Effect.” IEEE World Haptics Conference 2025. DOI

  15. ConferenceThermal
    2024

    Y. Kuroda, S. Tamaki, J. Xu, S. Hasegawa and N. Ienaga. “Representation of Humidity Change Based on Heating the Local Skin.” ICAT-EGVE 2024.

  16. ConferenceSensing
    2024

    J. Xu and Y. Aiyama. “Machine Learning-Based Deformation Estimation for Grasping 3D Soft Objects.” IEEE AMC 2024, 1–6. DOI

  17. ConferenceThermal
    2023

    K. Makino, J. Xu, A. Kaneko, N. Ienaga and Y. Kuroda. “Spatially Continuous Non-Contact Cold Sensation Presentation Based on Low-Temperature Airflows.” IEEE World Haptics Conference 2023, 223–229. DOI

  18. ConferenceThermal
    2019

    J. Xu, Y. Kuroda, S. Yoshimoto and O. Oshiro. “Non-contact Cold Thermal Display by Controlling Low-temperature Air Flow Generated with Vortex Tube.” IEEE World Haptics Conference 2019, 133–138. DOI

  19. DemoThermal
    2026

    ★J. Xu, L. Kong, K. Sakurada, N. Obushi and M. Inami. “MoHeat Evo: A Directional Thermal Headphone for Spatial Audio.” ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2026 Emerging Technologies. Project

  20. DemoEmbodiment
    2026

    C. A. Fan, H. Zhou, A. Maekawa, T. Sasaki, J. Xu, H. Asahi, H. Shimobayashi and M. Inami. “Armonii Sway: Wearable Robotic Arms Guided by Natural Body Motion.” ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2026 Emerging Technologies.

  21. DemoEmbodiment
    2026

    L. Kong, A. Dechaux, T. Yoshida, H. Zhang, S. Vishakan, J. Xu, G. Ganesh and M. Inami. “AdaptiveFly: An Adaptive Embodied Control Framework for Navigation and Teleoperation.” ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2026 Emerging Technologies.

  22. DemoEmbodiment
    2026

    Y. Xu, J. Xu, S. Hasegawa and T. Narumi. “NailShear: A Fingerpad-Free Wearable for Directional Haptic Cues via Paronychial Skin Stretch.” AsiaHaptics 2026.

  23. DemoThermal
    2026

    K. Watanabe, J. Xu, K. Chen and M. Inami. “ThermoTune: High-Speed Thermal Rendering of Music-Evoked Emotion.” AsiaHaptics 2026.

  24. DemoThermal
    2025

    J. Xu, K. Chen, Y. Kuroda, I. Kitahara and M. Inami. “Feel What You See: A Novel Sensory Interface Linking Visual Heat Cues and Instant Thermal Feedback.” SIGGRAPH Asia 2025. DOI

  25. DemoThermal
    2024

    J. Xu, K. Nakamura, Y. Kuroda and M. Inami. “MoHeat: A Modular Platform for High-Responsive Non-Contact Thermal Feedback Interactions.” AsiaHaptics 2024. arXiv

  26. DemoThermal
    2024

    S. Mizuno, J. Xu, S. Hasegawa, N. Ienaga and Y. Kuroda. “DynaPain: Moving Flame Beetle with Dynamic Pain Illusion Adapting Apparent Movement to Thermal Grill Illusion.” AsiaHaptics 2024.

  27. DemoThermal
    2022

    J. Xu, S. Tamaki, K. Makino, S. Yoshimoto, H. Hasegawa, N. Ienaga and Y. Kuroda. “HeatMagic: Intensity-adjustable Thermal Feedback System Based on the Vortex Effect and Thermal Radiation for Non-contact Thermal Interaction.” AsiaHaptics 2022.

  28. DemoThermal
    2019

    J. Xu, Y. Kuroda, S. Yoshimoto, H. Ishizuka and O. Oshiro. “Creating an Immersive Experience in a Cooling World with a Non-Contact Cold Thermal Display using Vortex Tube.” IEEE World Haptics Conference 2019, Demo.

  29. ArticleThermal
    2026

    許佳禕.「感覚はどこまで拡張できるのか ～「MoHeat Evo」が拓く視聴覚×温度インターフェース～」映画テレビ技術, No. 887, 37–39, 2026.

  30. ArticleThermal
    2025

    黒田嘉宏, 許佳禕.「温度感覚のバーチャルリアリティと人間の感覚」理科資料, 97, 2025.

Domestic conference presentations (Japanese · 21)
  1. 渡辺功侑, 許佳禕, 稲見昌彦.「Valence-Arousal モデルに基づく高速温冷刺激を用いた音楽体験拡張に関する検討」第31回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2026.
  2. 何紀婷, 許佳禕, 櫻田国治, 齊藤寛人, 門内靖明, 稲見昌彦.「非侵襲的温熱刺激による飲用時の主観的印象変容を目的としたシステムの開発」第30回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2025.
  3. 名嘉村和真, 許佳禕, 長谷川晶一, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「非接触提示による温知覚制御手法の開発」ヒューマンインタフェースシンポジウム2024, 2024.
  4. 水野蒼太, 許佳禕, 長谷川晶一, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「仮現運動による痛み錯覚の移動感提示装置の開発」第29回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2024.
  5. 秋元快成, 許佳禕, 金子暁子, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「コアンダ効果を利用した局所冷刺激による一体感提示」第29回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2024.
  6. 汪君逸, 陳凱旭, 許佳禕, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「作業中の覚醒度低下を防ぐための変調気流提示装置」第23回日本VR医学会学術大会, 2024.
  7. 張皖瑾, 許佳禕, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「教育訓練支援のための着座型温冷刺激装置による覚醒度変化に関する研究」第22回日本VR医学会学術大会, 2023.
  8. 水野蒼太, 許佳禕, 長谷川晶一, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「非接触痛み錯覚提示装置の開発」第28回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2023.
  9. 秋元快成, 許佳禕, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「冷気流群を用いた非接触首型冷覚提示デバイス」第28回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2023.
  10. 張皖瑾, 許佳禕, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「非接触温冷刺激による即時的な温度フィードバック体験」ヒューマンインタフェース学会研究会 SIGMAS-15, 2023.
  11. 許佳禕, 長谷川晶一, 清川清, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「皮膚温度変化をゼロに保ちつつ感覚を生じさせる非接触冷覚提示」第27回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2022.
  12. 牧野皓陽, 許佳禕, 家永直人, 金子暁子, 黒田嘉宏.「冷気流群による一体感のある冷空間VRシステムの開発」第27回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2022.
  13. 玉木聖悟, 許佳禕, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「独立温湿度刺激による乾燥湿潤VRシステムの開発」ヒューマンインタフェースシンポジウム2022, 2022.
  14. 許佳禕, 清川清, 長谷川晶一, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「非接触温冷刺激による即時的な温度フィードバック体験」ヒューマンインタフェース学会研究会 SIGMAS-13, 2022.
  15. 玉木聖悟, 許佳禕, 家永直人, 黒田嘉宏.「温湿度の独立制御による蒸し暑さ提示デバイスの開発」ヒューマンインタフェース学会研究会 SIGMAS-13, 2022.
  16. 許佳禕, 長谷川晶一, 黒田嘉宏.「不連続的な温度変化による非接触冷覚の連続性に関する評価」第26回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2021.
  17. 許佳禕, 長谷川晶一, 黒田嘉宏.「非接触温冷刺激の時分割提示手法の開発」ヒューマンインタフェースサイバーコロキウム2020, 314–317, 2020.
  18. 許佳禕, 吉元俊輔, 石塚裕己, 池田聖, 黒田嘉宏.「即時的な非接触冷覚を制御するための冷却モデルのパラメータ推定」第25回日本バーチャルリアリティ学会大会, 2020.
  19. 許佳禕, 黒田嘉宏, 吉元俊輔, 石塚裕己, 池田聖, 大城理.「冷気流による温度変化を表す物理モデルの構築」ハプティクス研究委員会 第23回研究会, 17–20, 2019.
  20. 許佳禕, 黒田嘉宏, 吉元俊輔, 大城理.「冷気の流速制御による非接触型冷覚提示」第63回システム制御情報学会研究発表講演会, 413–417, 2019.
  21. 許佳禕, 黒田嘉宏, 吉元俊輔, 大城理.「非接触冷覚提示のためのボルテックスチューブを用いた冷気生成システム」第19回計測自動制御学会システムインテグレーション部門講演会, 546–548, 2018.

Patents

  1. Granted2021

    黒田嘉宏, 許佳禕.「冷覚呈示装置及びプログラム」特願2021-091472, PCT/JP2022/021922, 特許第7709781号.

  2. Filed2022

    黒田嘉宏, 牧野皓陽, 許佳禕, 金子暁子.「温冷覚呈示装置およびプログラム」特願2022-142263.

  3. Filed2025

    櫻田国治, 稲見昌彦, 鳴海拓志, 中野萌士, 許佳禕, 高下修聡, 禰寝崇之, 松本篤弥, 松嵜直幸, 前川知宏.「情報処理装置、情報処理方法、情報処理システム及びプログラム」特願2025-062761.

  4. Filed2025

    許佳禕, 稲見昌彦, 松嵜直幸.「刺激提供機能を備えたデバイス」特願2025-181183.

06

CV

Appointments & education

  1. Project Assistant ProfessorRCAST, The University of Tokyo
  2. Project ResearcherRCAST, The University of Tokyo
  3. ResearcherLife Engineering Lab (Kuroda Lab), University of Tsukuba
  4. Ph.D. in EngineeringSystems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba · Life Engineering Lab
  5. M.Eng.Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
  6. Research StudentSchool of Engineering Science, Osaka University
  7. B.Eng. in Software EngineeringWuhan University of Science and Technology, China

Grants

  • JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists (PI)
  • JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up (PI)
  • JST SPRING Fellowship, University of Tsukuba

Awards

  • Best Student Paper Honorable Mention — Augmented Humans 2026
  • 26th Paper Award — Human Interface Society
  • Best Paper Award Finalist — ICAT-EGVE 2024
  • Honorable Mention Award — AsiaHaptics 2024
  • Academic Encouragement Award — 27th VRSJ Annual Conference
  • Best Demonstration Award, Bronze — AsiaHaptics 2022 Tokyo Satellite
  • Grand Prize — University of Tsukuba EDGE-NEXT
  • Excellent Presentation Award — Human Interface Cyber Colloquium

Service

  • SIGGRAPH Asia E-Tech 2025, 2026 · Augmented Humans 2026 · ICAT-EGVE 2025
  • Haptics Committee, Virtual Reality Society of Japan (2026–) · Judge, IVRC 2026
  • IEEE VR, IEEE WHC, ICAT-EGVE, AHs · IEEE ToH, Computers & Graphics

Teaching & mentoring

  • Guest lecture, Special Lecture on Artificial Reality (graduate), UTokyo
  • First-Year Seminar: Practical Cybernetics, UTokyo
  • Supervised 3 master’s graduates; currently 2 master’s students and interns

OPEN TO COLLABORATION · STUDENTS · INDUSTRY

Let’s build interfaces you can feel.

xu.jiayi@star.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Affiliation

Information Somatics Lab (Inami Lab)
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
The University of Tokyo

Researcher IDs

Scholar
hhRvwysAAAAJ
ORCID
0000-0002-3675-5902
researchmap
R000030183
KAKEN
20996433
J-GLOBAL
202101010961986566

Links

Information Somatics Lab ↗
Life Engineering Lab, Univ. of Tsukuba ↗
MoHeat Evo ↗