Papers are the main medium for conveying new research results at UIST and must describe original, unpublished work.
For questions, please email the program chairs at program2025@uist.org.
We strongly recommend submitting papers in the 2-column format, but will accept papers for review as either 1- or 2-column paper format if you are authoring in Word. The rationale for strongly recommending a 2-column format is that reviewers have generally expressed a strong preference for printing and reading PDFs in a two-column format. Additionally, the PDFs that appear in the digital library are ultimately two-column. However, as we do use the TAPS workflow, we understand that Word users may want to utilize the single-column template.
Your submission must be original. UIST only accepts original submissions. This means that your submission cannot have been published in another peer-reviewed venue or be under concurrent review at another peer-reviewed venue. Similarly, if you make multiple submissions to UIST 2025 Papers, their contributions must be distinct & self-contained from each other. Please refer to the author guide for details. Additionally, authors should avoid generating content using AI-agents (e.g., LLMs such as ChatGPT or similar), but the usage of these tools is allowed for editing and checking the author’s own text.
Revised Papers from Prior Submissions: To ensure consistency of the review process, we encourage authors of previously rejected papers to upload the prior version of the paper, corresponding reviews, and summary of changes from the last round of submission as part of the UIST 2025 paper submission process.
Submission Information
Submission Platform
All required materials must be submitted electronically to PCS by the abstract and paper deadline.
In PCS, first click “Submissions” at the top of the page, from the dropdown menus for society, conference, and track select “SIGCHI”, “UIST 2025” and “UIST 2025 Papers”, respectively, and press “Go.” This track will be opened a few weeks before the submission deadline.
For LaTeX authors, submissions are strongly recommended to be in the double-column format (example PDF ) using \documentclass[sigconf,review,anonymous]{acmart}. (please use the downloadable LaTex template or the Overleaf template ).
UIST papers are of variable length. Paper length must be based on the weight of the contribution. A new idea presented in a compact format is more likely to be accepted than the same idea in a long format, and shorter, more focused papers are encouraged. As a guideline, consider
Short Papers being submissions of 5,000 words or less.
Standard Length Papers being submissions between 5,000 and 12,000 words are considered standard length (about 7,000-8,000 words on average).
References and appendices are excluded from the word count.
Size: < 20 MB (compressed PDF files are encouraged during submission)
Please make appendices as separate PDF files and upload them as supplementary materials instead of including them as a subsection at the end of the original paper manuscript.
Accompanying Video
Optional, but highly encouraged
Resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080) or 4k (3840 x 2160 px), encoded as MP4 using the H.264 codec
No more than 5 minutes long
Size: < 250 MB
Subtitles are required using a separate .srt or .sbv file
Maximum File Size
Maximum total size for all files < 300 MB
Anonymity
Anonymous, i.e. authors must remove their names and affiliations throughout all submission materials (paper, videos, supplementary material) (anonymity policy )
Discuss your own prior work in 3rd person and include a full reference with names.
Selection Process
Refereed, i.e. the program committee and two external reviewers will review submitted papers
Publication
Archival, i.e. accepted papers will be published in the ACM Digital Library and distributed in digital form to conference attendees
Quick rejection / Desk rejection policy
Papers, where the length is incommensurate with contribution or the stated length of the submission (i.e., short paper vs. standard length papers), will be desk rejected. Submissions of more than 5,000 words for short papers or 12,000 words for standard papers will be desk rejected if their length is not justified. In very exceptional cases, such submissions may be considered for full review, but authors must provide clear and strong justification for why submissions are required to be longer than the word limit.
Anonymization Policy. Authors are expected to anonymize their identities in the body of the paper but leave citations to their previous work unanonymized so that reviewers can ensure that all previous research has been taken into account by the authors. Authors are required to cite their own work in the third person, e.g., avoid “As described in our previous work [10], …” and use instead “As described by Chetty et al. [10], …”. Papers that violate the anonymization policy by explicitly and unequivocally identifying the authors (i.e., beyond allowing the reviewers to simply "guess"), including within the supplemental materials or external links to datasets, code repositories, etc., will be desk rejected. Any supplementary material (including the video) should also adhere to the anonymity rule.
Your submission must be original; it cannot be published or under concurrent review elsewhere. If you have any concurrent submissions to UIST or other venues that are closely related – i.e., are based on the same study, artifact, or dataset – you must include an anonymized version of that submission to the concurrent submissions field. Failure to do so will result in desk rejection. Please see ACM guide on prior and simultaneous submissions .
Research Quality and Lack of Relevant Context: Papers must include sufficient detail for reviewers to evaluate research quality according to the norms and expectations of the UIST community. Papers should demonstrate clear connections to existing research literature in HCI and related fields, showing how the work builds upon or relates to prior work. Papers that lack adequate methodological details for proper evaluation, or that fail to engage with relevant prior research, may be desk rejected.
Your paper must be stand alone. Authors are encouraged to provide supplementary materials to support practices around research reproducibility as much as possible, however all important information to understand the contributions of your work must be in the main paper PDF. Heavy reliance on appendices and/or supplementary materials can be a ground for rejection including desk rejection.
Please ensure that you use the correct template and correct formatting of references. We strongly recommend submitting papers in the 2-column format, but will accept papers for review in either 1- or 2-column paper format if you are authoring in Word. Use of other templates or formats, including different citation styles, may result in desk rejection.
Final Publication Format
As required by the TAPS workflow, camera-ready manuscripts of all papers that have been accepted must be submitted in the formats listed below for final publication in the ACM Digital Library.
For LaTeX authors, your source files will be used to auto-generate (1) a double-column PDF (example PDF ), and (2) an accessible and responsive webpage (example HTML ) that will be placed in the Digital Library.
For Word authors, you will need to submit your paper in single-column format to correctly auto-generate (1) a double-column PDF (example PDF ), and (2) an accessible and responsive webpage (example HTML ) in the Digital Library.
Presentation Format
Talk at the conference delivered by one or more authors of the paper
Video Preview
Video previews are mandatory.
Recommended resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080) or 4k (3840 x 2160 px), encoded as MP4 using the H.264 codec
Length: 30 seconds
Size: < 150 MB
Subtitles are required using a separate .srt or .sbv file
Please see the video guide for more information on producing a video preview.
We strongly recommend that authors make their videos accessible through following the guidelines under Making Video Figures Accessible .
Demo Fast Track
Authors of accepted papers will be invited to participate in the UIST demo session. Details about this special/fast track of demos will be found on the demo page.
Please note that a DOI will not be provided for invited demo papers. Authors interested in having a DOI for their demo paper should consider submitting to the regular demo track.
Additional Notes
Accessibility: Accessible submissions are essential for reviewers and are good practice. To this end, we allow 2 more grace days after the paper submission deadline to provide alt-text for all figures and tables and upload video subtitles to make your optional video accessible. Allowing additional time for your paper and video submissions to be accessible will help increase the quality of the conference overall and enable us to facilitate accessible reviewing. If the authors have difficulties with making their submission materials accessible, they are encouraged to contact the UIST 2025 Accessibility Chairs by emailing accessibility2025@uist.org and volunteers with questions or for assistance to ensure that all accessible materials are submitted by the deadline. We strongly recommend that authors read the SIGCHI Guidelines for an Accessible Submission which describes the process to make a paper submission accessible, as well as the SIGCHI Technical Requirements and Guidelines for Videos , which describes the process of accessible video creation and captioning.
The author list must be complete by the abstract submission deadline. Late author changes (i.e., additions or changes of order) require approval from program chairs and may be declined or might require paper withdrawal. Ensure all authors are listed in the correct order by the abstract deadline.
We will continue to put the papers up publicly on the ACM DL a week in advance of the conference.
Authors may submit a rebuttal after the reviews are released. Though the ACs may indicate if the rebuttal is likely to help the paper being accepted (based on reviews and internal discussions), any author may choose to respond. A rebuttal response by Associate Chairs and external reviewers will be enforced by the Program Chairs as much as possible.
The video has traditionally been due the same day as paper submissions and this has always been stressful. We will allow for 2 more grace days after the paper submission deadline for uploading your optional video.
Open source: Our community welcomes open source and encourages the practice of creating software/hardware and sharing it through open-source and public repositories. However, open source is not a requirement or prerequisite for acceptance. Open source, as well as many other types of artifacts (e.g., videos, datasets, raw data, appendices), is recommended but completely optional, and will not be used for evaluation criteria. The paper should be evaluated on its own merits, not depending on supporting artifacts that are not submitted by the authors.
ACM’s Publication Policies
By submitting your article to an ACM Publication, you are hereby acknowledging that you and your co-authors are subject to all ACM Publications Policies, including ACM’s new Publications Policy on Research Involving Human Participants and Subjects. Alleged violations of this policy or any ACM Publications Policy will be investigated by ACM and may result in a full retraction of your paper, in addition to other potential penalties, as per ACM Publications Policy.
Please ensure that you and your co-authors obtain an ORCID ID, so you can complete the publishing process for your accepted paper. ACM has been involved in ORCID from the start and we have recently made a commitment to collect ORCID IDs from all of our published authors. The collection process has started and will roll out as a requirement throughout 2022. We are committed to improve author discoverability, ensure proper attribution and contribute to ongoing community efforts around name normalization; your ORCID ID will help in these efforts.
Posters provide an interactive forum in which authors can present their work to conference attendees during special poster sessions. Posters are an opportunity to describe new work, work that is still in progress, and work that is already presented in other venues but to share more with the UIST community.
Posters are semi-archival and will be more lightly reviewed than papers. For questions, please email the poster chairs at posters2025@uist.org.
Submission deadline
Friday, July 11, 2025
Acceptance notification
Wednesday, August 1, 2025
Camera-ready versions due
Wednesday, August 8, 2025
Video preview due (optional)
Wednesday, August 8, 2025
Submission Information
Submission Platform
All materials must be submitted electronically to PCS
before the submission deadline.
In PCS 2.0, first click “Submissions” at the top of the page, from the dropdown menus for society, conference, and track select “SIGCHI”, “UIST 2025” and “UIST 2025 Posters”, respectively, and press “Go.”
Submission Format and Length
Poster's Extended Abstract
The extended abstract should not exceed 2 pages (excluding references).
Recommended physical size is equal to or less than 841 mm x 1189 mm (A0 size) in either portrait or landscape
Accompanying Video
Optional, but highly encouraged
Resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080) or 4k (3840 x 2160 px), encoded as MP4 using the H.264 codec
No more than 5 minutes long
Size: < 250 MB
Subtitles are required using a separate .srt or .sbv file
Maximum File Size
Maximum total size for all files < 300 MB
Anonymity
IMPORTANT: Anonymous, i.e. authors must remove their names and affiliations throughout all submission materials (paper, videos, supplementary material) (anonymity policy )
Less rigorous than a paper review and does not include an author’s rebuttal. Authors may expect to receive only light feedback
The submitted content is generally not required to make the same level of lasting and significant contribution as refereed content
Publication
Semi-archival, i.e., authors may re-use and re-submit the content to other peer-reviewed venues (e.g., could be reused in a future UIST full paper submission).
The 2-page extended abstracts will be included in the ACM Digital Library as adjunct proceedings and distributed digitally to conference attendees. The poster design will not be included in the ACM Digital Library
Presentation Format
At least one author is requested to register and stand by their poster during the poster session to speak with conference attendees
Concurrent UIST Demo Submission
The same work cannot be submitted to both the UIST Demo and Posters tracks. Double submissions will only be considered as demo submissions and will be rejected from the Posters track
Novelty of Work
Resubmission of posters previously shown at other venues is allowed
Please state previous poster venues and differences from previous posters in the appropriate box in PCS
Online Presentation [UPDATED on May 12, 2025]
UIST '25 will be held in person only. It is recommended that authors consider this before submitting their work. However, accepted submissions will not be rejected if none of the authors can travel due to unavoidable issues (e.g., visa problems). Recording options may be considered for these cases, but we anticipate them being rare.
In-person registration is required. We do not plan to offer any virtual or online registration options. Even if no authors can attend in person, at least one author of each accepted poster must register at the in-person attendance rate. Failure to register will result in withdrawal from the accepted posters program.
Demos are one of the highlights of the UIST conference. Accepted authors show implementations of novel and compelling interaction concepts, techniques, devices, and systems. We particularly encourage highly interactive demos— from novel web systems and prototype devices, to new materials, fabrication methods, XR, and large interactive installations.
All demo submissions go through a rigorous curation process. The demo chairs will announce recommendations for presentation formats, and logistics and provide early access for technical setup before the conference. For questions please email the demo chairs: demos2025@uist.org
Submission deadline
Friday, July 11, 2025
Acceptance notification
Friday, August 1, 2025
Camera-ready versions due
Friday, August 8, 2025
Video preview due
Friday, August 8, 2025
Submission Information
Submission Platform
All materials must be submitted electronically to PCS
before the submission deadline.
In PCS 2.0, first click “Submissions” at the top of the page, from the dropdown menus for society, conference, and track select “SIGCHI”, “UIST 2025” and “UIST 2025 Demos", respectively, and press “Go.”
We do not have a strong page limit, but we recommend that authors prepare a manuscript of ~1,500-2,000 words to equate to the double column 2-page length, often 4-5 pages in the single column (plus references). Submissions could be both single-column or double-column format in PDF.
We strongly encourage to use the double-column format.
Floor Plan
The demo submission should include a PDF document describing the envisioned setup and interaction (demo hardware components, tables, chairs, lights, and other equipment) so that organizers get a good understanding of your setup.
This will also allow the organizers to better consider your requirements when organizing the demonstration space at the venue.
This video should be a standalone demonstration of the work
It shows the working demo in appropriate detail
It will be published ahead of time (~2 weeks before the conference) on the conference website
Length: up to 5 min
Resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080) or 4k (3840 x 2160 px), encoded as MP4 using the H.264 codec
Subtitles are required using a separate .srt or .sbv file by the camera-ready deadline
Preview Video
Video previews are mandatory (7 days grace period after camera-ready deadline)
Resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080) or 4k (3840 x 2160 px), encoded as MP4 using the H.264 codec
Size: < 150 MB
Length: 30 seconds
Subtitles are required using a separate .srt or .sbv file
Anonymity
Demo submissions are not anonymous. Author names and institutions will be visible to the reviewing committee throughout the submission process.
Selection Process
Demos are juried by the UIST demo chairs, and there is no rebuttal phase
Due to the nature of the juried process, authors will not receive review feedback and will only be informed about the decision
Publication
Non-archival, ideas presented as a UIST demo can be resubmitted as an extended full paper in subsequent years
Authors may choose whether demo abstracts will be included in the ACM Digital Library as Adjunct Proceedings and distributed in digital form to conference attendees
Demos that accompany a UIST paper submitted as a fast-track submission will not be included in the ACM Digital Library as Adjunct Proceedings.
Presentation Format
At least one author is required to be physically present at the conference and present their demo during demo sessions
Lab Demos
If the authors have multiple demo submissions from the same lab/company, we can group these demos together at the venue. Please indicate the submission IDs of all demos from the same lab on the PCS submission page.
Concurrent UIST Poster Submission
The same work cannot be submitted to both the UIST demo and poster tracks. Double submissions will only be considered as a demo submission and will be rejected from the poster track
Novelty of Work
Resubmission of demos previously shown at other venues is allowed
Demos of Accepted UIST 2025 Papers
Authors of accepted full papers who also want to present a demo must submit an entry into the demos track. They have two choices:
Demos that accompany accepted papers will follow a fast-track process with an abbreviated submission. Although no demo abstract is required, authors are still required to submit a video preview and other relevant data (e.g., title, abstract, floorplan). Demos accompanying full papers will not receive a separate DOI. Note that unlike in previous years, there will be no option for a fast-track submission with a DOI. Authors who wish to have their demo abstract published with a DOI in the proceedings are welcome to submit a full demo submission by the demo track deadline.
Changes in author list and affiliations
Please make sure that all authors and their affiliation are correct before submitting in PCS
It is not possible to add or remove any author from a demo abstract after submission
It is not possible to change the affiliation of any author after the submission
The UIST Doctoral Symposium provides a unique opportunity for Ph.D. students to interact with established academic and industry researchers in the UIST community. Students can receive both feedback on technical aspects of their research as well as mentoring about different career options. The range of topics appropriate for the Doctoral Symposium is the same as the topics covered in the UIST Technical Papers program. Participants will be selected based on their anticipated contributions to the breadth and depth of the intellectual discussions at the Symposium. The Doctoral Symposium will be held in-person on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at the conference venue.
Sunday, September 28, 2025 (plus dinner the evening of Saturday, September 27)
Submission Information
Eligibility
Current Ph.D. student studying within the full range of disciplines and approaches that contribute to the UIST community.
It is strongly recommended that students be at least entering the third year of the doctoral program, i.e., at the stage of having a concrete dissertation proposal to discuss.
In PCS 2.0, first click "Submissions" at the top of the page, from the dropdown menus for society, conference, and track select "SIGCHI," "UIST 2025," and "UIST 2025 Doctoral Symposium", respectively, and press "Go."
Submission Format and Length
Submit papers in the 2-column paper format
Submissions should be a maximum of 4 pages + references
Accompanying Video
Optional, but highly encouraged.
Resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080) or 4k (3840 x 2160 px), encoded as MP4 using the H.264 codec.
No more than 5 minutes long.
Size: < 250 MB.
Subtitles are required using a separate .srt or .sbv file.
Maximum File Size
Maximum total size for all files must be under 150 MB.
Anonymity
Not anonymous, include the single author's name and institution(s) on the submission.
Selection Process
Juried by the UIST Doctoral Symposium chairs and invited panelists.
Criteria: anticipated contributions to the breadth and depth of the intellectual discussions of the symposium.
Students at all levels of their PhD will be considered. Strong applicants will have at least one published technical paper at a UIST conference or similar venue.
Does not include an author’s response or conditional acceptance, i.e. authors will only receive feedback along with the final decision.
Publication
Non-archival. Ideas presented at the UIST Doctoral Symposium can be resubmitted.
Doctoral Symposium abstracts (max 4 pager + references in 2-column format) will be included in the ACM digital library as adjunct proceedings and distributed in digital form to conference attendees.
Presentation Format
Talk at the Doctoral Symposium event, followed by extensive discussion with the panel and the other student participants.
The student author is requested to attend.
The exact times of sessions will be announced after the acceptance notification date.
Additionally, each student is encouraged to present a poster describing their work to the full conference within the UIST poster sessions.
Novelty of Work
The Doctoral Symposium abstract should describe ongoing work and might summarize the student's full dissertation work, or highlight a particular part in depth.
Posters for Accepted Submissions
Each student is encouraged to present a poster describing their work to the full conference.
Posters will be presented within the UIST poster session.
Workshops provide an interactive forum in which organizers can discuss a designated area of interest with fellow conference attendees during special workshop sessions. Workshops should reflect the nature of UIST: engaging, interactive, and cutting-edge. Consider activities such as discussions, demonstrations, brainstorming, and prototyping. Workshop activities should target the active participation of approximately 25-45 participants.
Given space and activity limitations, participants will need to apply by, e.g., answering a few open-ended questions with short answers, to participate; workshop organizers cannot require a position paper or similar longer submission. Similarly, there should be no expectation that workshop participants will submit their own previously published works to attend a workshop.
Workshop descriptions should include a clear scope, a proposed format, a preliminary agenda, and intended audience, and how you will facilitate audience interaction with organizers and each other. We encourage not just typical UIST topics of interest but also intersections between UIST and other communities within and beyond HCI. These workshop descriptions are non-archival but can be included in the ACM DL adjunct proceedings in the same way posters’ extended abstracts are, if the organizers wish. Submissions will be selected by the organizers based on topic fit, quality of anticipated interaction, and anticipated interest.
For questions, please email the workshop chairs at workshops2025@uist.org.
Submission deadline
Friday, July 11, 2025
Acceptance notification,at which point workshop organizers can begin advertising
Friday, August 1, 2025
[optional] Workshop description camera-ready version due
In PCS 2.0, first click “Submissions” at the top of the page, from the dropdown menus for society, conference, and track select “SIGCHI”, “UIST 2025”, and “UIST 2025 Workshops”, respectively, and press “Go.”
Submission Format and Length
Workshop Extended Abstract.
The extended abstract should not exceed 2 sq pages (excluding references).
The double-column ACM paper template should be used for the submission process. For Overleaf/LaTeX, this means that the following command should be used: \documentclass[sigconf, review]{acmart}
Accepted submissions will go through the ACM TAPS Workflow if the organizers choose to add their 2-page extended abstract to the ACM Digital Library.
Anonymity
Not anonymous, include author names and institutions on submission
Selection Process
Juried.
Less rigorous than the paper review process and does not include an author’s response or conditional acceptance.
Juried content is generally not required to make the same level of lasting and significant contribution as refereed content.
Workshop Jury Members
Niels van Berkel (Aalborg)
Danli Luo (UW)
Sven Mayer (TU Dortmund)
Suranga Nanayakkara (NUS)
Deepak Sahoo (Swansea)
Benjamin Tag (UNSW)
Bryan Wang (Adobe)
Publication
Workshop organizers can choose whether their 2-page extended abstract is included in the ACM Digital Library as adjunct proceedings and distributed in digital form to conference attendees.
Presentation Format
Workshops will be full-day events happening the day before the main conference (i.e., on Sunday September 28th)
At least one workshop organizer is requested to register and facilitate the workshop.
Workshops should reflect the nature of UIST: engaging, interactive, and cutting-edge. Consider activities such as demonstrations, brainstorming, and prototyping.
Workshop activities should target an audience of approximately 25-45 participants.
Back for its eighth year, UIST Visions is a venue for forward-thinking ideas to inspire the community and to project the UIST community as thought leaders in technical HCI.
The goal is thus to propose new research directions rather than to report on existing research. Proposals will be reviewed based on novelty and relevance, and how provocative the ideas are.
The author should aim to start a meaningful and well-informed discussion about future directions for computer-human interfaces and interaction techniques. Appropriate topics might be:
future trends
foundational technologies that we need to make progress on
significant, compelling problems that the community might address
topics that are absent from the community’s work
an alternative perspective on what we do
Submission deadline
Friday, July 11, 2025
→ Friday, July 18, 2025 (Extended)
In PCS 2.0, first click “Submissions” at the top of the page, from the dropdown menus for society, conference, and track select “SIGCHI”, “UIST 2025” and “UIST 2025 Visions", respectively, and press “Go”.
Not anonymous, include the author's name and institution(s) on the 1-page submission
Selection Process
Curated by the UIST vision chairs
Less rigorous than paper review and does not include an author’s response or conditional acceptance, i.e. authors will not receive any formal feedback other than the selection decision
Up to two speakers will be selected
Publication
Non-archival, ideas presented as a UIST vision can be resubmitted as a full paper in subsequent years
Vision abstracts (the 1-pager) will be included in the ACM digital library as adjunct proceedings and distributed in digital form to conference attendees, the slides will not be included in the ACM digital library
Presentation Format
Talk at the conference
15 minute presentation + 15 minute Q&A
Two 30-minute sessions scheduled during the conference
Accepted speakers will be required to sign the approval form to record and publish the talk
Slides will be reviewed ahead of the conference to ensure a great, engaging presentation
The UIST Lasting Impact Award was established in 2003 to recognize UIST papers that have had a long-lasting influence on the field of user interface software and technology. The impact can be in terms of new research directions, wide acceptance in industry, or large societal impact.
The list of previous recipients is available at this link .
We are issuing an open call to the community for nominations to this award. To nominate a paper, send an email to lastingimpact2025@uist.org with:
The name, email address and position of the nominator
The reference of the nominated paper (with the link to the ACM Digital Library)
One sentence that describes the paper’s lasting impact (15 words max)
A nomination letter explaining why this paper should receive the award (250 words max)
Nominated papers must have been published at UIST 2015 or earlier. A person can nominate at most one paper per year. Authors cannot nominate their own papers. The committee will consider nominated papers along with other eligible papers identified by the committee.
The deadline for nomination is Monday, June 17 at midnight Anywhere-on-Earth (AOE) time.
The winning paper will be announced at the UIST 2025 conference in Busan, Korea this fall.
Join the UIST Student Innovation Contest (SIC) 2025 and help shape the future of immersive interaction! In partnership with DataFeel, this year’s theme — “The Future of Feeling: Exploring the Frontiers of Multi-Modal Haptics” — invites students to imagine bold, forward-looking ideas that push the boundaries of how we experience the world through haptics. Whether you're designing for XR, AI, robotics, storytelling, or everyday interfaces, we’re looking for creative concepts that explore how multi-modal haptics can transform the way we connect, communicate, and feel. Bring your vision to life, meet fellow innovators, and compete for exciting prizes!
Submission deadline
Friday, July 18
→ Friday, July 25, 2025 11:59 pm AoE (Extended)
Announcing selected teams
Friday, July 25
→ Friday, August 1, 2025 11:59 pm AoE (Extended)
Camera-ready versions
Friday, August 1
→ Friday, August 8, 2025 11:59 pm AoE (Extended)
Submission of project video
Friday, September 19, 2025 11:59 pm AoE
Presentation of the final demo
At the in-person UIST conference in BUSAN, September 28 - October 1, 2025
Submission Information
Eligibility
Current undergraduate and/or graduate students (MS or PhD)
Team size: the minimum team size is 2, and the maximum is 5
Submission Platform
All submission materials must be submitted electronically to PCS 2.0 before the submission deadline
All required materials must be submitted electronically to PCS by the deadline. In PCS, first click “Submissions” at the top of the page, from the dropdown menus for society, conference, and track select “SIGCHI”, “UIST 2025” and “UIST 2025 SIC”, respectively, and press “Go.” This track will be opened a few weeks before the submission deadline.
Submission Format and Length
Double-column, two pages maximum without references
For LaTeX authors, submissions should be made using the double-column format of the Overleaf template (example PDF) using \documentclass[sigconf]{acmart}.
For Word authors, submissions should be made using the double-column format of the Word template (example PDF).
The accepted abstract will be included in the adjunct proceedings and published in the ACM Digital Library
Anonymity
Not anonymous, include the author’s name and institution(s) on the submission
Selection Process
Juried by the UIST Student Innovation Contest chairs and invited panelists.
A maximum of 10 teams will be selected.
Presentation Format
At least one author is requested to present their demo during SIC sessions and to speak with conference attendees.
UIST 2025 SIC Challenge: The Future of Feeling: Exploring the Frontiers of Multi-Modal Haptics
The DataFeel DevKit
The DataFeel DevKit is a complete starting point for your work during the UIST 2025 SIC Challenge. Each DevKit includes:
Four (4) DataFeel Dots, each operable to output combinations of vibration, heat, cold, and light toward skin responsive to a data source.
One wearable controller dubbed El Jefe™ includes a power source for the Dots and a wired or wireless connection to the data source.
Access to the SDK and related documentation.
Access Datafeel composer software, including free and paid options for developing new experiences.
Access to a custom LLM for coding support.
Access to a library of 3D print files for different types of 3D printable attachments, making it possible to wear the Dots and El Jefe in different arrangements.
Interconnecting hardware, such as cables and power adapters.
Each DataFeel Dot is a haptic technology operable to output a plurality of different feedback types, including:
A vibrotactile feedback output from a pair of LRAs operable to output 3g of vibrational force across a tunable spectrum of 100–300 Hz;
A visual feedback output from a full-spectrum light source, including 16 LEDs composed of 8 skin-facing LEDs and 8 side-facing LEDs; and
A thermal feedback from a TEC module operable to rapidly generate hot (~1.5°C/s) and cold (~0.75°C/s) within a range of ~15-45°C.
Various aspects of each Dot can be modified to affect its performance, such as by modifying its skin-contacting surface for attachment to a particular body part and/or adding an external heat sink for extended use or a wider range of outputs, such as ~5-45°C instead of ~15-45°C.
Each Dot is a multi-modal sensor device capable of outputting various types of data, including movement data from a 6-axis IMU for usage tracking and temperature data from a thermistor, enabling thermal feedback loops.
The Dots are connected via cables to one another and El Jefe for power and communication. Different sets of 15cm and 30cm cables are provided with each DevKit to accommodate different configurations.
El Jefe is a wireless controller and battery pack. It includes two (2) 18650 Batteries providing about one (1) hour of maximum power delivery for all 4 Dots, suggesting a run time of two or more (2+) hours of regular use. El Jefe includes hardware for USB-C or Bluetooth communication, Bluetooth MIDI plug and play capabilities, and USB-C charging, making it immediately operable with a variety of data sources.
SDK runs on Python or C# and includes a Unity Engine Plugin. Low-level and high-level engines are provided and can be easily integrated into virtually any system. For example, SDK has been used to create various haptic content or “haptic tracks” for use with music, video, books, AR/VR Headsets, Unity, GoDot, Digital Audio Workstations, MIDI Instruments (physical and electronic), OSC signals, JSON files, .CSV files, and more.
Each DevKit includes attachment elements operable with a Velcro watch strap to position the skin-facing surfaces of the Dots against the skin, making them immediately wearable for both initial testing and ongoing use.
Datafeel’s library of 3D print files can be used to create custom attachment elements for various configurations, allowing you to attach a Dot to any body part or insert it into another object. For example, their library includes 3D print files for attachment elements that are compatible with various watch straps, lockable into other structures, and optimized for attachment to skin using biocompatible adhesives.
To enable further customization, the library also includes 3D print files for El Jefe that you can customize as well.
DataFeel can be used for various applications. In SIC, we are looking forward to various ideas, not limited to the suggestions below.
Vibrating devices for kinetic effects, like linear resonant actuators (LRAs) for video game controllers.
Optical devices for color-based effects, like LEDs for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) lamps.
Artificial touch, by using a combination of sensors and different haptic feedback, to replicate a missing finger’s ability to communicate with the brain.
Enhanced musical engagement.
Immersive storytelling, by adding complementary layers to book reading and/or location-based experiences, enhances user engagement.
Interactive merchandise, such as toys or stuffed animals, that simulate emotional responses to data.
Using XR, AI, Robotics, etc
Registration
To participate, please submit your proposal through PCS.
To complete your submission, you’ll need:
A description of your idea.
The team members with names and affiliations (the authors need PCS accounts for the submission)
The PDF document needs to be ACM Template with Double-Column Paper Format — the same as the full paper publication, but two pages max without references. You can use the double-column format of the Overleaf template using \documentclass[sigconf]{acmart}, or the Word template.
A PDF document that lists the modules needed for the project. The list will be used to customize and ship the toolkit.
An optional video that shows your idea and the concept
Any additional supporting materials (sketches, images, etc.) that help the submission are optional
For accepted teams, one of your team members MUST register for the UIST conference and pay the registration fee. If you’ve been accepted as a student volunteer, you can let us know as well.
Contest Rules, Details, and Suggestions
Pre-Selection Criteria: Organizers will select up to 10 teams, judged based on usefulness, creativity, complexity, feasibility, and time/resource constraints.
Maximum team size is 5, and you can’t be part of multiple teams!
Eligibility: You MUST be a student to participate in this contest. Students of all levels (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD) are encouraged to participate.
Selected teams will be invited to an online meeting for an introductory training session on using the Datafeel Dev Kit.
Registration Requirement: If your team is accepted, at least one team member must register for the conference (or be accepted as a student volunteer). This is for three reasons: 1) you have to demo your idea at the in-person UIST event, 2) you have to claim your prizes, and 3) UIST is an awesome conference!
Demo Ideas: During the contest voting period, teams will be allowed to demo one idea. Different demos of the same idea are permitted.
Demo Safety: Safety is our utmost priority. Make sure your demos follow reasonable safety guidelines (i.e., don’t light anything on fire!)
Awards
Innovation comes in many forms. At UIST, we provide Student Innovation Contest awards for the following categories: Jury Awards (Most Useful Award and Most Creative Award) and People’s Choice (Attendee Votes). All selected teams get to keep the hardware kits (DataFeel Dev Kit) and a travel grant of up to $500, both proudly provided by DataFeel. Winners will win prizes and a UIST SIC certificate. Note that we reserve the right to change the awards structure during the contest.
To apply to be an SV go to this page and submit the questionnaire. The deadline and notification dates are listed below.
Lottery application due
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Acceptance notification
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Benefits
Being an SV will give you a chance to attend the premier forum for innovations in human-computer interfaces and network with the leaders in the field! At its core, the student volunteer experience is about making connections, both with your fellow volunteers and with more senior researchers. Whether it’s helping out with Q&A after a talk for a researcher you look up to, working on a task directly with members of the organizing committee, or even helping someone check-in while working at the registration desk, there are so many opportunities to make connections that can have a true impact on your career. Not to mention the free conference registration and SV T-shirt!
We are happy to report that we plan on continuing the “rockstar” Q&A sessions with senior researchers; these will most likely be held virtually the week following the conference.
If you are a UIST Student Volunteer, you get:
Free conference registration
Exclusive SV “rockstar” Q&A sessions with senior faculty and researchers
Access to a tight SV community
A free UIST 2025 SV T-shirt
The chance to closely work together with both presenters and the conference organizing committee
Logistics and Duties
Our goal is to make sure SVs can attend the sessions that they are interested in. In 2025, we expect to have around 45 SVs who will work approximately 15 hours before or during the conference.
SVs will do a mix of tasks before and during the conference. Any hours spent doing pre-conference tasks will count towards your total SV hours. Some pre-conference tasks may need to be done several weeks before the conference begins; please indicate your availability to do pre-conference tasks on the lottery questionnaire and we will try to accommodate everyone’s preferences as best as possible.
UIST 2025 is intended to be a fully in-person conference (see Attending). Most SV tasks will be in person and we expect all SVs to attend the conference in person.
Thanks so much for applying! We look forward to seeing you at UIST 2025!!
T-shirt design contest
There is another way to secure your spot as an SV - participating in the UIST 2025 SV T-shirt design competition! The winner gets to be an SV & have a T-shirt with their design given to all the SVs.
Your design must be a single-color print on a contrasted background, and it can be front only or front and back. If we pick your design, you can choose the color of the graphics and the t-shirts. We’ll ask you for the original source file for production.
To participate, please submit the designs to sv2025@uist.org by August 24, 2025. Good luck!
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