Steeven Villa, PhD

I help teams understand how people perceive, trust, and adapt to emerging interactive systems.

At a Glance

Peer-reviewed research, working prototypes, and international service across HCI, AI, XR, haptics, and human augmentation.

Research Impact

I translate experimental HCI research into product-relevant insight for teams building AI systems, embodied interfaces, XR experiences, and emerging interaction technologies.

Human-AI Interaction

Evaluating how AI explanations, framing, feedback, and automation shape decisions, trust, performance, and perceived value.

Embodied & Multisensory UX

Designing and studying haptic, thermal, wearable, and XR experiences that make digital systems feel more tangible, intuitive, and trustworthy.

Research Strategy & Evaluation

Turning ambiguous questions into prototypes, behavioral studies, mixed-method evaluations, and practical product recommendations.

Evidence for Emerging Interfaces

Combining controlled experiments, neurophysiology, and UX methods to understand what new interfaces actually do for people.

How I Help Teams

Practical research support for teams deciding whether a new interaction concept is useful, trustworthy, usable, and worth building.

Evaluate Before Launch

Design studies that reveal whether AI, XR, haptic, or robotic interfaces actually improve user experience and decision quality.

Make Trust Measurable

Translate abstract concerns such as trust, perceived agency, usefulness, and expectations into measurable research questions.

Prototype the Unknown

Build and test early interaction concepts when teams need evidence before committing to a full product direction.

Turn Research Into Decisions

Convert findings into product implications, design recommendations, and clear next steps for stakeholders.

Selected Research

Studies showing how expectations, perception, and framing shape the way people experience AI, augmentation, and haptic systems.

The Power of Expectation

High expectations alone can significantly alter user behavior in augmented systems. This finding is key for designing AI that adapts to user mental-model and belief.
in Computers in Human Behavior

Decoding Haptic Illusions

Using EEG, we can pinpoint the precise neural markers that signal a user's detection of a haptic illusion, offering a direct window into sensory processing in VR.
in IEEE Transactions on Haptics

Bias vs. AI Performance

Can negative descriptions harm AI effectiveness? Our research shows that performance benefits from augmentation are surprisingly resistant to this "nocebo" effect.
in ACM CHI24

Research Prototypes

Working systems that make abstract research questions tangible, testable, and easier to reason about.

AR Conversational Co-pilot

This AI-powered augmented reality interface analyzes conversation context in real-time to deliver subtle, relevant cues, fostering smoother and more meaningful interactions.

Room-Scale Ultrasonic Haptics

Feel virtual objects anywhere in a room without controllers. This 6DoF robotic platform uses phased-array ultrasound to deliver tactile sensations in mid-air.

Virtual Temperature Rendering

This robotic end-effector renders realistic temperature changes, allowing users to feel the warmth of a virtual fire or the chill of ice in VR applications.

AI and Me, An Interactive Art Exhibition

An interactive art installation exploring human-AI collaboration. Visitors' inputs dynamically shaped the evolving artwork, presented at the Alte Pinakothek Munich.

Thermal Haptic Illusions

Can the color of a virtual object change how hot or cold it feels? This VR experience uses visual cues to create powerful thermal illusions with ultrasound haptics.

Sensory Augmentation Vest

A wearable haptic system that translates complex data into distinct tactile patterns on the torso. A flexible platform for sensory substitution and human augmentation research.

Community & Recognition

Selected service, reviewing, and awards across the HCI, XR, haptics, and human augmentation communities.

Conference Leadership

AHs 2022-2026, Web, Poster, and Proceedings Chair roles
UIST 2022-2023 Video Chair
SVR 2021 Publicity Chair
MuC 2022 Video Chair
Neuroergonomics 2021 Public Relations

Reviewing

CHI 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
UIST 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
AHs 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
ISMAR 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026
IEEE VR 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
Computers in Human Behavior
Transactions on CHI 2022, 2024
Transactions on Haptics 2023, 2024, 2025

Recognition

CHI 2025 Honorable Mention Award
ISWC 2021 Honorable Mention Award
Haptics Symposium 2020 Honorable Mention Award
WHC 2019 1st Place, World Haptics Competition
Petrobras 2019 Inventor Award

Current Focus

A snapshot of the work I am prioritizing now.

HCI/UX Methods

I am currently conducting research on HCI and UX methods, with a focus on improving how we design, evaluate, and interpret studies of interactive technologies. This work includes meta-HCI topics such as questionnaire development, effect sizes, and methodological rigor in human-centered research.

UX/CX Research

I am leading UX/CX research with a focus on quantitative methods, neuroscience, and human-centered evaluation. My goal is to connect rigorous research practice with applied product, service, and customer experience decisions.

Work With Me

If you are building AI, XR, haptic, robotic, or emerging-interface products, I can help turn uncertainty about people into research-backed decisions.