Omaha, NE — DataFeel has been named as the exclusive technology partner for the Student Innovation Contest (SIC) at the upcoming ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) 2025, in Busan, South Korea.
As part of the collaboration, DataFeel will provide finalist teams with its flagship DataFeel DevKit—a multi-modal haptic platform operable to affect human systems by outputting customizable combinations of vibration, heat, cold, and light responsive to data from any data source. Customizable hardware and software will be provided along with documentation and technical support, ensuring that each finalist team can start building immediately.
The contest theme, “The Future of Feeling: Exploring the Frontiers of Multi‑Modal Haptics,” invites students to imagine bold new applications of multi-modal haptics across wellness, XR, AI, robotics, and beyond. The company has provided some immediate starting points for targeted applications but is open to helping the teams pursue their vision for the technology.
“Partnering with UIST 2025 is an incredible milestone for DataFeel,” said Matthew Leaper, CEO. “We are the human side of a data feedback loop, making us well-positioned to support the next generation of designers, engineers, and researchers as they push the boundaries of data-driven user interfaces.”
The submission deadline is July 18, 2025. Teams of 2–5 students (undergraduate to PhD level) are encouraged to submit 2-page proposals via the ACM PCS system. Around 10 teams will be selected to receive a DataFeel DevKit and mentorship, culminating in a live demo session at UIST in Busan on September 28, 2025.
Contest Details and Application Info: https://uist.acm.org/2025/sic/
