Daichi Kusumoto

I am a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park, working with Prof. Jun Nishida in the Embodied Dynamics Laboratory. I design wearable devices that enable bodily sensations to be shared between people and investigate how sensory sharing can support skill learning and interpersonal support. My work combines electrical stimulation, exoskeletons, and haptics while drawing on ergonomics, with applications in education, vocational training, rehabilitation, and sports.

My interest in HCI began with my own experiences of long-term rehabilitation and neurodivergence, which made me aware of how differences in the body and cognition can shape the ways people learn and participate in activities. I later developed VR-based training systems for assembly work in the automotive industry, while also serving as a guide runner in blind marathon around the time of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, participating in CYBATHLON 2024, an international assistive technology competition, and leading exercise programs for children and older adults. Through these experiences, I became increasingly interested in how technology can support skill learning across differences in bodies, cognition, and experience.

My goal is to uncover how bodily experience shapes motor skill learning and translate those findings into technologies that respond to individual physical states and learning processes. I aim to bridge the study of human learning with technology design to create new ways for people to share bodily experiences and skills. Ultimately, I envision a future in which technology expands how people with diverse physical and cognitive characteristics can learn skills and pursue the activities they value.