On December 2, 2024, TU Wien Informatics honored the faculty’s most outstanding students across all academic levels – Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral.

We are thrilled to announce that our Master’s student, Tobias Batik, received the Best Master Thesis Award for his thesis on Design and Evaluation of a Novel Shape Changing Haptic Device for Virtual Reality.  Tobias was awarded a €1500 prize in recognition of this remarkable achievement.

Tobias Batik’s thesis introduces Shiftly, a shape-shifting haptic device that enhances Virtual Reality (VR) by providing realistic touch feedback. Shiftly uses shape-changing technology based on origami to mimic the feel of virtual objects by adjusting its surface. A functional prototype was created, tested in VR, and evaluated in user studies. The device successfully simulates various shapes, including flat, convex, and edged, using only three actuators – a considerably smaller number than comparable state-of-the-art devices.

Tobias was co-supervised by Prof. Hannes Kaufmann, head of our research group, alongside group members Khrystyna Vasylevska and Hugo Brument.

The VR group warmly congratulates Tobias on this well-deserved award and wishes him continued success in his academic and professional journey.

Best Master Thesis Winner, Tobias Batik, in the center, and two runners-up in the sides.
Best Master Thesis Winner, Tobias Batik, in the center, and two runners-up in the sides.

 

Tobias presenting his work, Shiftly, in the TU Wien Informatics Award ceremony.
Tobias presenting his work, Shiftly, in the TU Wien Informatics Award ceremony.

 

Tobias Batik, the Winner and his supervisor, Prof. Hannes Kaufmann.
Tobias Batik, the Winner and his supervisor, Prof. Hannes Kaufmann.