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About

Timothy Merritt is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction, shape-changing interfaces, and educational robotics. His work fundamentally explores how dynamic physical forms can transform how we interact with technology, from playful learning tools to novel food experiences. Merritt’s landmark paper, "Grand Challenges in Shape-Changing Interface Research" (2018, 230 citations), synthesizes the field’s open questions and has become a foundational reference for researchers worldwide. He is equally known for pioneering "Robot-Supported Food Experiences," where he investigates how robotic systems can augment aesthetic plating and social dining. Merritt’s contributions extend to accessible STEM education, as seen in his work on staging constructionist learning with low-cost electrochromic displays and his development of soft robotics workshops that teach design, movement, and sustainability through experiential learning. His research on preschool children’s playful interactions with a cardboard robot (2021) and fear-inducing play in AR escape rooms (2022) demonstrates his commitment to understanding how shape-changing and robotic agents shape human emotion and social behavior. With a portfolio spanning highly cited theoretical frameworks to hands-on, child-centered design, Merritt is shaping the future of interactive, physically dynamic computing.