sam chin

I'm a PhD student at the MIT Media Lab exploring how technology can expand human perception and create new ways of experiencing the world.

My research focuses on building wearable haptic systems that translate sound and spatial information into touch, with applications ranging from hearing augmentation to drone teleoperation. I approach this work from two perspectives: designing the hardware and interfaces that enable sensory augmentation, and investigating the neuroscience of how we learn and integrate new senses. My goal is to create technologies that help people navigate perceptually ambiguous situations—whether that's understanding speech in noisy environments or maintaining spatial orientation.

Beyond my primary research, I explore the intersection of electronics and art through projects spanning interactive installations, conductive ceramics, and sculptural lighting. Previously, I was a hardware engineer at Tulip, where I designed the electronics for their second-generation edge device, integrating analog, digital, and communication interfaces for smart manufacturing.