Kadek Ananta Satriadi

Augmenting Data Physicalization Using Visuo-Tactile Illusions

Xiaojiao Du, Kadek Ananta Satriadi, Adam Drogemuller, Ross T. Smith, James Walsh, Andrew Cunningham

ACM Interactive Surfaces and Spaces . Turin, Italy. 2026. Publication type: full paper.
This publication is student-led.

Data physicalizations fabricated by 3D printers are limited in their ability to dynamically vary their form and tactile properties without refabrication, thereby hindering reusability. In particular, tactile properties on the surface of a physicalization (i.e., surface roughness) cannot be dynamically adjusted as the data change. To address this limitation, we explore a novel method to increase the reusability of a data physicalization, namely perceived tactile modulation (PTM). Our method enables the perception of varying surface roughness levels on a static data physicalization through the use of virtual reality. By altering the visual roughness of the virtual model, we modulate the user’s perception of tactile roughness, thereby influencing how the physicalization is interpreted through touch and expanding the range of ordinal data values that can be encoded. We conducted two studies to design and evaluate this method. In the first study (N = 20), Just Noticeable Differences (JNDs) were established for perceivable visuo-tactile channels in virtual reality environments. The second study (N = 12) investigates the application of our method across two levels of interactive representation: static and interactive. Our findings show that PTM can reliably modulate perceived roughness in static physicalization, while its effectiveness for supporting dynamic, single-artifact updates (interactive encoding) requires further investigation. We present a series of recommendations for applying PTM techniques in data physicalization.

To be presented at ACM ISS 2026, in Turin, Italy.