Contact Info
Office
Crerar 365

Pedro Lopes is an Associate Professor in Computer Science at the University of Chicago. Pedro focuses on integrating interfaces with the human body—exploring the interface paradigm that supersedes wearables. These include: muscle stimulation wearables that allow users to manipulate tools they have never seen before or that accelerate reaction time, or a device that leverages the smell to create an illusion of temperature.

Pedro’s work has received several academic awards, such as six CHI/UIST Best Papers, Sloan Fellowship and NSF CAREER, and captured the interest of the public (e.g., New York Times, exhibited at Ars Electronica, etc.; more: https://lab.plopes.org).

Research

Focus Areas: Human Computer Interaction, Virtual + Augmented Reality, Wearable Computing

My lab have been exploring how body-device integration allows us to engineer interactive devices that intentionally borrow parts of the body for input and output, rather than adding more technology to the body. You can see our work at lab.plopes.org.

Courses taught by Pedro:

  1. Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (CMSC 20300, where you build software interfaces)
  2. Inventing and Engineering Interactive Devices (CMSC 23220, where you build hands-on hardware)
  3. Engineering Interactive Electronics onto Printed Circuit Boards (CMSC 23230/33230, where you design advanced circuits that are professionally manufactured)

See detailed course descriptions and which courses are currently active here.

Research

Human Computer Interaction

Exploring the interfaces between people and technologies

Labs & Groups

Human-Computer Integration Lab

Pedro Lopes
Engineering interactive devices that integrate directly with the user’s body as the natural succession to wearable interfaces.

Systems Group

A vibrant, collaborative research community with diverse, synergistic research interests spanning systems, programming languages and software engineering, software and hardware...

CERES Center for Unstoppable Computing

Andrew A. Chien
A dynamic community focused on reducing the fragility and complexity of computing systems, while also increasing their efficiency and lifetime.

News & Events

UChicago Computer Scientists Design Small Backpack That Mimics Big Sensations

Sep 11, 2023

Computer Science Class Shows Students How To Successfully Create Circuit Boards Without Engineering Experience

May 17, 2023

UChicago CS Researchers Shine at CHI 2023 with 12 Papers and Multiple Awards

Apr 19, 2023
Two students looking at a wearable device

High School Students Find Their Place in Computing Through Wearables Workshop

Jan 13, 2023

UChicago CS Researchers Create Living Smartwatch to Explore Human-Device Relations

Dec 12, 2022

The Computing Pipeline: A Foundation for Diversifying Computer Science

Nov 28, 2022

UChicago AI Summit Examines Promise and Concerns for Science and Society

Nov 01, 2022

Assistant Professor Pedro Lopes Receives Sloan Research Fellowship

Feb 15, 2022

Wearable Device That Changes Perception of Softness Wins Best Paper at UIST 2021

Nov 30, 2021

New Wearable Device Controls Individual Fingers for Sign Language, Music Applications

Oct 11, 2021

Largest-Ever DSI Summer Lab Adds 55 Students, New Social Impact Track

Jul 13, 2021

Ten Papers at CHI 2021 Flourish Frontiers of HCI Research at UChicago CS

May 11, 2021
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