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. Examples of these new interfaces 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. These interactive devices leverage computers to augment the user’s body, not just cognitively, but also physically (e.g., Pedro’s wearable that accelerates a person’s reaction time made it to the Guinness Book of World Records).
Most recently, Pedro is exploring how interfaces can change people’s behaviors, attitudes, and even provide assistance with societal challenges, such as electronic waste (e-waste reduction/reuse) and environmental attitudes. Pedro’s work has received several academic awards, such as seven CHI/UIST Best Papers, seven CHI/UIST Honorable Mentions, the Sloan Fellowship, and the NSF CAREER award, and captured the interest of the public (e.g., New York Times, Wired, New Scientist, exhibited at Science Gallery, Ars Electronica, etc.;more: https://lab.plopes.org).
