Dr. Ivan Makarov – Postdoctoral Researcher in Psychology and Engineering
Dr. Ivan Makarov received his PhD in Psychology from the University of Iceland in 2024, where his thesis was named: “Using multimodal attention to design sensory substitution devices for improving tactile perception.” He previously earned an MSc in Applied Cognitive Psychology from Utrecht University (2021) and a BA in Psychology from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow (2019).
His research interests include multisensory perception, tactile music, haptic illusions, and human–computer interaction.
Ivan is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Iceland, where he leads the project Haptic Harmony (funded by the Icelandic Research Fund). The project explores how music can be translated into touch through wearable devices, with the aim of creating new possibilities for both deaf and hearing individuals to experience music.
— Funding: RANNIS – Grant number: 2511369-051
— Collaborative Partners:
University of Iceland: School of Health Sciences & School of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Iceland University of the Arts
— Timeline: 03.2025 – 03.2028
— Purpose
This project investigates how music can be translated into tactile experiences, enabling both deaf and hearing individuals to experience music through touch. The goal is to design and evaluate wearable sensory substitution devices (SSDs) that convert sound into vibrations, and to develop training methods that improve tactile music perception and enjoyment.
— Research Questions
The research focuses on three core questions:
What are the perceptual thresholds for vibrotactile stimuli, and how well can they represent musical features such as rhythm, intensity, and emotional content?
How can wearable devices be designed to deliver these tactile signals effectively and be integrated into daily life?
Can structured training enhance the ability to perceive, interpret, and emotionally connect with tactile music?
— Methodology
The project combines psychophysical experiments, prototype development, and user studies. Controlled lab experiments will measure tactile thresholds and music perception limits. Prototypes of wearable devices will be designed, refined through user feedback, and tested in real-life scenarios.
— Key Findings
The project is still in its early stages, but initial results show that participants are highly accurate in distinguishing identical or strongly different vibration patterns, while subtle one-dimensional differences (amplitude or frequency alone) remain more challenging.