Yihao Dong

PhD Student

I am a PhD researcher specializing in extended reality, haptics and sensory substitution, with a focus on developing augmented reality systems that help people with visual impairments better perceive and navigate their environment. My work explores how haptic feedback can transform spatial information into tactile experiences, enhancing environmental awareness and independence.

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Research Interests

Sensory SubstitutionHapticsXR

Publications

Conference / CHI '26 / 2026

SRL Proxemics: Spatial Guidelines for Supernumerary Robotic Limbs in Near-Body Interactions

H Zhou, CA Fan, Y Dong, S Takashita, M Inami, Z Sarsenbayeva, A Withana

Team Profile: Hongyu Zhou -> ·Yihao Dong -> ·Zhanna Sarsenbayeva -> ·Anusha Withana ->

Project page | DOI arXiv Preprint |

Conference / CHI '26 / 2026

TactDeform: Finger Pad Deformation Inspired Spatial Tactile Feedback for Virtual Geometry Exploration

Y Dong, PB Perera, CT Lin, CT Jin, A Withana

Team Profile: Yihao Dong -> ·Praneeth Perera -> ·Craig Jin -> ·Anusha Withana ->

Project page | DOI arXiv Preprint Code |

Conference / CHI '25 / 2025

Juggling Extra Limbs: Identifying Control Strategies for Supernumerary Multi-Arms in Virtual Reality

H Zhou, T Kip, Y Dong, A Bianchi, Z Sarsenbayeva, A Withana

Team Profile: Yihao Dong -> ·Anusha Withana -> ·Hongyu Zhou -> ·Zhanna Sarsenbayeva ->

Project page | DOI |

Preprint / arXiv / 2025

A Survey on Methodological Approaches to Collaborative Embodiment in Virtual Reality

H Zhou, Y Dong, M Inami, Z Sarsenbayeva, A Withana

Team Profile: Anusha Withana -> ·Yihao Dong -> ·Hongyu Zhou -> ·Zhanna Sarsenbayeva ->

DOI arXiv Preprint |

Conference / AHs '25 / 2025

Just Before Touch: Manipulating Perceived Haptic Sensations through Proactive Vibrotactile Cues in Virtual Reality

Y Dong, P Somarathne, CT Jin, J Kim, A Bianchi, A Withana

Team Profile: Yihao Dong -> ·Pamuditha Somarathne -> ·Craig Jin -> ·Anusha Withana ->

Project page | DOI Code |