Accessible IoT
About
As the Internet of Things expands into all aspects of daily life, its potential to advance social good depends critically on accessibility for differently-abled users. This project develops Open Accessibility Assessment Toolkits for Inclusive IoT Design, enabling dynamic, in-situ system reconfiguration based on users' implicit feedback captured through on-body sensing technologies.
Research Vision: Dual-Approach Framework
Our research follows two complementary approaches that together create a comprehensive ecosystem for accessible IoT:
Approach 1: Helping Users
Detecting and Relieving Stress Through Physiological Sensing
We integrate sensors into everyday objects (umbrellas, earphones) to capture physiological signals unobtrusively, enabling real-time assessment of accessibility barriers and providing adaptive feedback for stress relief.
Key Systems: Affective Umbrella, MindSpace, OpenEarable ExG
Approach 2: Supporting Designers
Simulation Tools and Accessibility Awareness
We provide experiential learning tools that help designers understand the experiences of people with different abilities, embedding accessibility considerations from the earliest design stages.
Key Systems: Visual Impairment Simulation Glasses, Community Co-Design Studies
Featured Prototypes
Affective Umbrella
Physiological sensing integrated into umbrella handle with real-time bio-feedback visualization. Validated through 21-person real-world study.
Seeing Our Blind Spots
Optical see-through smart glasses enabling dynamic visual impairment simulation. Published at UIST 2022.
MindSpace
Pneumatic haptic device simulating breathing for stress relief. 18-participant study showed improved relaxation and productivity.
OpenEarable ExG
Open-source ear-based biopotential sensing platform. MIT licensed, enabling eye-gaze interfaces and cognitive monitoring.
JST Presto Grant
Grant Number: JST Presto JPMJPR2132
Period: 2021-2025
Principal Investigator: Kai Kunze
This website showcases the research outputs and achievements from our JST Presto grant focusing on accessibility assessment tools for the Internet of Things.
Quick Stats
- 30 Publications in top-tier venues (CHI, UIST, UbiComp, ETRA)
- 29 Research Themes explored (2021-2025)
- 4 Major Prototypes developed and validated
- 2 Open-Source Platforms released (MIT licensed)
- 40+ Citations demonstrating research impact
- 6 International Workshops organized
Contact
Email: kai@kmd.keio.ac.jp
Homepage: https://kaikunze.de
Institution
Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University