Projects
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to lead several research and consultancy projects in collaboration with various organizations, ranging from government bodies to industry research labs and startups. As the Principal Investigator, I have led projects in domains such as ICT for development, Virtual Reality, Accessibility, and Gestural Interfaces. My current work focuses on VR in healthcare and education domain. If you would like to view a comprehensive list of all my projects, including non-funded ones, please visit my lab's website.
Gyan Dhara - Integrating VR for Experiential Learning
The primary goal of Gyan Dhara is to craft and implement 20 comprehensive VR educational modules that span crucial curriculum subjects such as science, mathematics, and social studies, among others. These modules are designed to be immersive, interactive, and aligned with the Indian educational standards, providing students with an unparalleled learning experience that transcends traditional methodologies
Funding agency: Guwahati Planetarium Management Society
Funding amount: ₹ 5,90,00,000
Year: Nov 2024 - June 2027
Research and Design of Disability-
Inclusive Virtual Shopping Experience
The project aims to research, innovate and design enhanced virtual shopping experience for users with visual and auditory impairment. By doing so, we aspire not only to enhance the user experience for a significant portion of the population but also to set new standards for accessibility and inclusivity in digital commerce. The goal is to create a virtual shopping experiences where everyone has equal access to the opportunities and joys of virtual shopping.
Funding details: Walmart
Funding amount: ₹ 33,00,000. Year: Nov'24 - Nov'25
VR-Based Arthroscopy Training & Assesment
In collaboration with Healthium Medtech, this project aims to design and develop a VR training & assessment platform to train the way surgeons perform complex arthroscopic surgeries including ACL and PCL reconstructions, Meniscus Repair, and Bankart Repair. This immersive simulator aims to leverage detailed 3D models and interactive technology to enhance surgical precision and learning outcomes.
Funding agency: Healthium Medtech Limited
Funding amount: ₹ 88,50,000
DPR Creation of WASH Experience & Knowledge Center
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed WASH Experience and Knowledge Center supports the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) by detailing an advanced, technology-driven facility designed to educate, empower, and effect behavioral change in water and sanitation practices within communities. The DPR outlines the conceptualization and narrative development for the center, which includes interactive exhibits, immersive CAVE experiences, Virtual Reality engagements, and a comprehensive Water and Sanitation Park.
Funding details: Jal Jeevan Mission Assam
Funding amount: ₹ 51,50,000
MadVR: Revolutionizing Surgical Training and Education
A spinoff born from my lab, established in 2023, the mission is to transform surgical training and education through cutting-edge VR technology. MadVR offers interactive, immersive, and medical-grade surgical simulations, revolutionizing the learning experience. Our customized solutions cater to equipment manufacturers and medical colleges, reshaping the landscape of surgical education.
एवं (Evam): Design of an educational metaverse
By leveraging the power of advanced VR, we aim to create a metaverse that engages students' curiosity and creativity, fosters their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and inspires them to collaborate and communicate with peers.
Funding details: GPMS, Govt of Assam. INR 1,00,00,000. 2023 - 2025
Designing Incentives to improve TB Treatment Adherence in Resource-Constrained Settings
Our objective is to design an efficient incentive scheme for TB patients that encourages them to regularly continue taking their DOTS intake. By studying and experimenting with different approaches, we aim to reduce TB defaulter rates and improve patient outcomes.
Funding details: NIHA, Singapore. USD 120,000. 2021-2023
Virtual Reality Zone
We designed the VR zone at the Guwahati Planetarium, Assam, India featuring space exploration and learning about planets and solar systems. Using 5 Oculus Quests and 8 Oculus Go, children enjoy 15 minutes of interactive VR sessions, exploring different planets and learning about their unique characteristics.
Funding details: ASTEC, Govt of Assam. INR 32,00,000
Pragati - VR Training for Health Workers
Pragati is a mobile VR-based training module that educates rural health workers on maternal and child healthcare. The interactive, engaging, and immersive educational content was deployed in three districts of Assam, India, with over 600 health workers using it for four to six months.
Funding details: ICMR, MHRD under IMPRINT, INR 45,00,000. 2017-2019
Swasthyaa - Increasing TB Adherence
Swasthyaa is a web and mobile application with an intelligent blister packet designed to track TB defaulters in India. Our objective is to enroll susceptible patients into the DOTS program and reduce defaulter rates through real-time tracking of DOTS intake.
Funding details: ICMR & MHRD under IMPRINT scheme, INR 50,00,000. 2017-2019
Novel Interactions for Flexible and Deformable Devices
Our project proposed new shapes and interactions for flexible and deformable handheld devices. We explored various bend-based deformation interfaces and shape-centric interactions to enhance user experience while performing common tasks on future handhelds.
Funding details: Nokia, Euro 40,000. 2015-2017
Accessible Mobile Native Apps
We designed and evaluated concepts to enhance smartphone accessibility. We developed a one-handed mode with a mobile interface to access unreachable areas, improved the movie-viewing experience for the hearing impaired, and conceptualized interactive in-app assistance for older adults to teach application-centric interactions.
Funding details: Samsung Research Institute India (SRIB), INR 22,00,000. 2013-2015
Chetna - Gesture Mediated Maternal Healthcare
Chetna aims to study gestural interfaces for low-literate and resource-constrained users. We developed gesture-mediated audio-visual learning modules for rural mothers to educate them on antenatal care via a TV interface. Deployed and evaluated for four months, Chetna studied user-centric gestures, acceptance, and adoption of gestural interfaces in the rural Indian context
Funding details: IBM Research Labs. INR 8,00,000. 2012-2013
E-Budget Assam
In 2018, the state of Assam in India launched the e-budget mobile application, a pioneering project in the country. The app allowed citizens to access budget allocation, new schemes, and initiatives in an intuitive and user-friendly manner. It was launched on the budget day by the Finance Minister and Chief Minister of Assam.
Funding Agency:
Funding details: Ministry of Finance, Govt. of Assam, INR 10,00,000. 2018
UX Advisory, Audit and Expert Studies
I have been actively providing guidance to the Government of Assam on various IT and ICT initiatives, advising them on UX Design, technology, and implementation. My contributions have included the digital platform for the Commissioner of Taxes, the State Public Procurement Portal, and the Government Receipt Accounting System (GRAS) portal, among others.
Funding details: Various ministries of Govt. of Assam.
