Hi, I'm Silang

My journey into human-computer interaction (HCI) began when I read The Singularity Is Near during my final year of primary school, after which I asked my parents to send me abroad for a more interdisciplinary, English-based education. After memorizing all the English vocabulary in 6 American primary school textbooks in one month, I left China alone for Singapore to stay with my aunt. In my first year living abroad, search engine and electronic dictionary helped me make sense of the new English environment, while social media helped me stay connected with my family back home. These technologies became more than just tools — they were assistants, bridges, and mediators that helped me discover my interests across STEM and the arts, adapt to a new culture and ultimately find a new home away from home.

Looking back, I often wonder how much of that journey was shaped not only by my own determination, but also by modern technologies and the tech ecosystem that quietly supported it. What would my experience have been like a century earlier, before such tools existed? And what might it look like a century from now, when multimodal AI systems or agents live on our body or co-exist with us in our daily life?

Since then, I have pursued these questions by designing and building interactive systems spanning wearables, multimodal AI, AR/VR and architecture, treating them as scientific instruments for exploring the future of human-computer and human-AI interaction. My path has led me to the University of Washington, where I am pursuing a Master's degree in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE). Previously, at the National University of Singapore, I have been fortunate to conduct HCI research on wearables, heads-up computing, and applied AI/ML under Professor Li-Shiuan Peh and Professor Zhao Shengdong. Beyond academia, I worked with startups applying AI to sign language translation and adopting mixed reality for physical education, experiences that further reinforced my interest in translating emerging technologies into human-centered interactive systems.

Outside the lab, I play survival horror games like the Resident Evil series, tour distinct architecture in the US like the Seattle Public Library, and think a lot about how long will it take for GUI to become the next CLI.