Johann
Wentzel

CHI2025

MotionBlocks: Modular Geometric Motion Remapping

Lets people with limited mobility use VR with small movements or simple controllers instead of big arm motions.

PDF ACM Talk Blog

TVCG2024

A Comparison of Virtual Reality Menu Archetypes

Most VR apps use laser-pointer menus, yet they’re among the slowest; reaching out to tap or flicking toward an item is often faster.

PDF IEEE Blog

CHI2024

SwitchSpace: Context-Aware Peeking Between VR and Desktop

Quickly glance at your computer from inside VR, and vice versa, instead of taking the headset on and off.

PDF ACM Blog Talk Slides

CHI2020

Improving VR Ergonomics through Non-Linear Input Amplification

Makes small arm movements go further in VR, so you can reach comfortably without your virtual arm feeling fake. (Best Paper Honorable Mention, top 5%)

PDF Blog ACM YouTube

More Publications

1. PhD Dissertation: Improving VR Accessibility

   Making VR adapt to each person’s body, devices, and space, so people with limited mobility can use it too.

   PDF UWSpace
   Thesis2024
2. More Than Input: Using the Gaze-Psychology Link for More Accessible AR

   Where your eyes go says a lot about what’s on your mind; early ideas for using that to make AR more accessible.

   PDF
   CHI WS2024
3. Bring-Your-Own Input: Context-Aware Multi-Modal Input

   My PhD plan: VR that works with whatever devices and body positions people with limited mobility already use.

   PDF ACM Poster
   CHI DC2023
4. Volumetric Rendering for Lens Flare and Film Grain in VR

   Two ways to bring movie-style lens flare and film grain into VR, where you can look in any direction.

   PDF
   CVMP2022
5. Understanding How People with Limited Mobility Use Multi-Modal Input

   How gamers with limited mobility mix controllers and other devices, from surveys, interviews, and YouTube videos.

   PDF Blog ACM Talk
   CHI2022
6. Designing for Differing Physical Spaces in Social VR

   How do you share one VR room when one person is in a small office and the other is in a gym?

   PDF Blog
   CHI WS2021
7. Font Your Friends: On the Utility of Ugly Interfaces

   A tool that turns photos of faces into fonts, and an argument that “ugly” interfaces can be more human.

   PDF Blog ACM Demo YouTube
   alt.chi2021
8. Master's Thesis: Reach-Bounded, Non-Linear Input Amplification

   The full thesis behind the VR Ergonomics paper, on reaching further in VR with less arm movement.

   PDF UWSpace
   Thesis2019
9. Shared Presence and Collaboration using a Co-Located Humanoid Robot

   Controlling a robot standing next to you while still using your own hands, so one person can do a two-person job.

   PDF ACM YouTube
   HAI2015