about reality design lab

The Lab

Reality Design Lab is an interdisciplinary research and design lab focused on the intersection of spatial computing, programmable cryptography, somatic design, speculative design, and social computing. Led by Botao Amber Hu, this lab prioritizes the development of embodied interactions within mixed reality and the realm of blockchain-substrated artificial life. Amber is not only a researcher and innovator in the field but also an accomplished designer and creative technologist who initiated Holo Interactive Inc., which operates the lab. His contributions have been showcased at prestigious events such as SIGGRAPH, WWW, CHI, SXSW, and TEDx, earning him recognition through numerous accolades like the CHI Best Interactivity, Red Dot Design Award, Webby Awards, and Core77 Design Award. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Tsinghua University and a Master's in Artificial Intelligence from Stanford University.

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Research Interests

The Reality Design Lab is dedicated to investigating and understanding the multifaceted implications of emerging technologies, with a focus on the convergence of:

  • somatic design
  • speculative design
  • spatial computing
  • social computing

This lab is dedicated to investigating and understanding the multifaceted implications of the emerging technologies all with the overarching goal of answering a fundamental question:

What is that reality in the future?

By amalgamating human-computer interaction principles and advanced computational techniques, we aim to discern the profound impact of these technologies on the future socio-technical landscape. Through our meticulous investigations, we strive to contribute to the academic community by advancing the theoretical foundations and practical applications of human-computer interaction in this evolving paradigm. Our research endeavors encompass various aspects, the topics we are interested in includes but are not limit to:

  • Co-located multiplayer mixed reality
  • Embodiment in mixed reality
  • On-chain artificial life
  • Playable city/urban computing
  • Somatic experiences in digital environments
  • Speculative futures and design fiction
  • Social dynamics in spatial computing

With our work, we seek to unravel the complexities of the future reality, exploring the transformative possibilities that arise from the convergence of these technologies. We aim to envision and shape a future where the boundaries between physical and digital realms blur, and where novel economic models redefine traditional notions of value and exchange.

Interested in joining us or looking for collaboration? Collaborate with Us