University of Chicago unveils RingIO: an eyes-free ring with touch as both input and output
plopesresearch · x · 2026-11-03
At UIST 2026's electric interfaces session, the University of Chicago's Human Computer Integration Lab (Lopes' Lab) presents RingIO, a novel smart ring operated eyes-free, using touch as both input and output.
The lab's broader agenda is bodily-integrated interactive devices: electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) actuates the user's body for VR touch feedback or lets everyday objects teach users how to operate them—without bulky exoskeletons. The key idea is borrowing the body itself as I/O hardware, keeping devices exceptionally small; the concept has been generalized to temperature, smell, touch, and rich skin sensations.
They also collaborate with neuroscientists on agency—whether users feel in control when their body is integrated with an interface—to guide design of this new device class.
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