Puneet Jain

Puneet is currently pursuing a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Puneet holds a Master’s in Computation and Data Sciences from IISc Bangalore, where he focused on Numerical Linear Algebra and Machine Learning. He has worked as a Data Scientist at SAP Labs and as a Research Fellow at IISc’s Interaction Design Lab, collaborating with Microsoft Research India on adaptive eye-gaze keyboards for individuals with speech and motor impairments. His current artistic-research practice explores how XR technologies can be made accessible to disabled communities, particularly those with quadriplegia. Puneet’s XR art works, which challenges perceptions of sensorimotor disability, has been recognized internationally at Ars Electronica, ISEA, xCoAx, Khoj, and Electronic Literature Organization.

His recent publication, co-authored with his supervisor Christopher Salter, is titled “Can I use my mouth to navigate in VR?”: Integrating Mouth Gestures in XR with (and for) Disabled Artists through Criptastic Hacking. This case study paper was accepted at the ACM CHI 2025 conference and will be presented in Yokohama, Japan

“My journey weaves together technology, art, and activism, driven by a commitment to inclusivity, informed by the principles of disability justice. Working with disabled artists, I reimagine XR as a platform for expression, challenging ableist design to create immersive, empowering, and accessible experiences for all.”

Puneet Jain