Dr. Astrid Kappers

Biography

Astrid Kappers is a full professor of Fundamental Applied Haptics at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). She is an expert in human perception, particularly in haptics and vision, with a strong emphasis on fundamental research complemented by applied research. Her work addresses the crucial question of how human perception can be accurately reflected in the design of man-machine interfaces. Kappers explores how humans can flexibly learn to adapt to the peculiarities of devices, making interactions intuitive and thereby saving time and energy while improving safety. Her research interests include understanding human interaction with devices focusing on haptic aspects, quantifying human capabilities related to haptic discrimination, and investigating how haptic interaction can be made more intuitive. She also examines the usefulness of individual design specifications and emphasizes the fundamental understanding of touch and haptic perception. This understanding is scientifically vital and has essential applications in various fields, including prosthetics, robotic hands and arms, teleoperation, telesurgery, and tools for the visually impaired. Kappers has noted a rapid increase in worldwide interest in haptic technology, underlining the growing relevance of quantitative research in haptic perception. She completed her PhD at Eindhoven University of Technology, focusing on temporal decomposition of speech. Her academic journey has included positions at Utrecht University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Kappers has received recognition for her research, including the prestigious VICI grant in 2003, and has been a member of several editorial boards in the field.

Research Interests

Experience