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Interaction with the Physical World

Advances in low- and no-power sensing, communication and interaction technologies offer new possibilities for blending digital innovation with our physical environment.

From gesture recognition that allows people to interact with objects in new ways, to low-power sensors that collect and transmit data about temperature, air quality, urban accessibility and more, our researchers are tapping into the potential of computation to transform how we experience the world around us.


Research Groups & Labs

A student wearing an Oculus headset motions toward a screen displaying a virtual character

UW Reality Lab

The UW Reality Lab advances the state of the art in virtual and augmented reality by developing new technologies and applications, educating the next generation of researchers and technologists, and supporting robust collaborations with industry.

Robotic arm feeding seated person a strawberry on a fork with an inset image of the robot mapping features of their face

Personal Robotics Lab

Our mission is to develop the fundamental building blocks of perception, manipulation, learning, and human-robot interaction to enable robots to perform complex physical manipulation tasks under clutter and uncertainty with and around people.


Faculty Members


Centers & Initiatives

Taskar Center for Accessible Technology logo with TCAT in block letters and a row of silhouettes depicting 8 people of diverse presumptive ages and abilities, including a person with a guide dog, a person in a wheelchair, a person with a cane, and a trio of people of different heights holding hands

Taskar Center for Accessible Technology (TCAT)

TCAT harnesses the power of open-source technology to develop, translate, and deploy accessible technologies, and then sustain them in the hands of communities. Housed by the Paul G. Allen School for Computer Science & Engineering, TCAT centers the experience of people with disabilities as a lens for improving design & engineering, through participatory design practices, tooling and capacity building.

DFab Digital Fabrication at UW logo

Center for Digital Fabrication (DFab)

DFab is a network of researchers, educators, industry partners, and community members advancing the field of digital fabrication at UW and in the greater Seattle region.

Highlights