Mike Sinclair

Mike Sinclair (also written as Michael Jack Sinclair in some sources) is a researcher whose work covers haptics, human-computer interaction, and VR/AR hardware. A 2021 Microsoft Research page listed him as a Senior Principal Researcher at the Redmond lab and associated him with the Haptic Controllers & Rich Haptics for MR project; the same research area is documented in Microsoft Research’s project page and publication collection. The current Microsoft Research EPIC people page lists him as an “EPIC Group Alumni,” so this profile does not present Microsoft Research as a confirmed current employer. A 2024 CHI paper and the University of Washington DUB page list Mike J Sinclair with University of Washington Electrical & Computer Engineering; that confirms a paper affiliation, not a current faculty title. His documented research topics include VR/AR haptic controllers, haptic perception, mechatronic or shape-changing devices, and interactive hardware.

• 1998–end year not confirmed·Microsoft Research·Historical research and prototyping role
  • In a 2019 Georgia Tech oral history, Sinclair said he joined Microsoft in 1998. Microsoft’s 2013–2021 pages and publication collection identify him as a Microsoft Research researcher and document work on haptics and VR/MR hardware. The current page lists him as an EPIC Group Alumni, so the end year and present status remain pending.
• 2024 paper affiliation·University of Washington, Electrical & Computer Engineering·Paper affiliation (not a confirmed current appointment)
  • The 2024 CHI author information and the UW DUB listing identify Mike J Sinclair with UW Electrical & Computer Engineering; they do not provide a current faculty title.
• Around 1997·Georgia Institute of Technology, Interactive Media Technology Center·Research-project context
  • The Georgia Tech IMTC timeline records Mike Sinclair’s participation in IMTC projects including the haptic lens and states that he moved to Microsoft in 1998; it does not provide a complete formal job-title timeline.

• TouchMover: Actuated 3D Touchscreen with Haptic Feedback (2013) was co-authored by Mike Sinclair, Michel Pahud, and Hrvoje Benko. The Microsoft Research publication collection marks it as an ITS 2013 Best Paper and describes a 3D touchscreen with force feedback.Microsoft Research publication page
• Big or Small, It’s All in Your Head: Visuo-Haptic Illusion of Size-Change Using Finger-Repositioning (CHI 2024) was co-authored by Mike J Sinclair and is marked Honorable Mention on the Microsoft Research publication page. The paper studies visual–haptic size-change illusions created by repositioning the fingers in VR.Microsoft Research publication page

• 1961–1965·Georgia Institute of Technology·Degree not verified
  • In a 2019 Georgia Tech oral history, Sinclair said he attended the institution; no verifiable degree name or conferral year was found in this review.Oral history record

Review date: 2026-09-23. Current identity and appointment status remain pending. Microsoft Research, University of Washington, and Georgia Tech sources were used respectively for historical employment, paper-affiliation, and education/research checks; the database institution association was not treated as evidence of a current role.