I am currently an assistant professor for the Section of Visual Computing & Computational Media and Virtual Production Institude in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Art (PVFA) at Texas A&M University (TAMU). I am also affiliated with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at TAMU. I lead the VVAI Lab (Visualization, Virtual reality, Augmented reality, and Interaction Lab). I received my Ph.D. degree in the department of Computer Science and Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Huamin Qu and Prof. Ting Chuen Pong at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
My research interests lie in the area of AR/VR/MR, Data visualization, and Human–computer interaction. Specifically, I focus on bringing data visualization beyond traditional workspace (i.e., personal computer) to everyday life using AR/VR technology for more efficient and effective data exploration and analysis.
Please also don’t hesitate to contact me at wtong@tamu.edu for any collaboration opportunities or inquiries.
News
Our work “ARGUS: A Live Globe for Petabyte-Scale Climate Data Streaming in Browser and VR” received an Honorable Mention Award at the IEEE Scientific Visualization Contest 2026. 2026-11-09 | |
🎉 | Our paper “Illuminating the Scene: How Virtual Environments and Learning Modes Shape Film Lighting Mastery in Virtual Reality” has received an Honorable Mention Award at IEEE VR 2025. 2025-03-05 |
Two papers have been accepted by IEEE TVCG! One of them was accepted through the IEEE VR 2025 TVCG track. 2025-01-22 | |
🎉 | Become an assistant professor for VCCM VPI at Texas A&M University! 2024-08-01 |
One paper accepted MM 2024! 2024-07-20 | |
One paper accepted ISS 2024 (Feb round)! 2024-06-05 | |
One paper has been accepted by TVCG! 2024-03-04 | |
Two full papers and one LBW paper accepted by CHI 2024! 2024-03-01 | |
🎉 | Start my new job at TAMU! 2024-01-01 |
Very glad to be invited to present my IEEE VR 23 work in IEEE VIS 23! 2023-08-30 | |
🎉 | Defend my PhD thesis entitled “Towards Effective Data Visualization by Fusing Immersive Technology with Traditional Workflow”! 2023-08-18 |
Will present two posters about AR/VR visualization in IEEE VIS 2023. 2023-07-22 | |
🎉 | Award over HKD$1M from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) for our proposed project “Augmenting Situated Visualizations with Tangible User Interfaces”. 2023-06-30 |
Present our work on understanding 3D data videos at PacificVis 2023. 2023-04-14 | |
Present our work on asymmetric collaborative immersive visualization at IEEE VR 2023. 2023-03-27 | |
Present our work on paper interaction in the IEEE TVCG VIS session at SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 at Daegu in Korea. 2022-12-08 | |
🎉 | Present our honorable mentioned paper on paper interaction in IEEE VIS 2022 at Oklahoma City in the US. 2022-10-19 |
Visit Dr. Yalong Yang at Virginia Tech in the US. 2022-06-01 |
Publications
Comparing Assistant Configurations in Simulated VR Luxury Shopping: A Mixed-Methods Study
Shan Jin, Thomas Bohné, Ruoqing Yang, Wai Tong, Lik-Hang Lee
Journal
Virtual Reality, 2026
Hernan D. Santos, Tiansu Chen, Sina Alidoust Salimi, Amir Hossein Khazaei, Bilal Zahid Hussain, Maitreya Cherukupalli, Thang Nguyen Ha, Jaison Kurian, Wai Tong, Jian Tao
Contest
IEEE Scientific Visualization Contest (SciVis Contest), 2026
🏆 IEEE SciVis Contest 2026 Honorable Mention Award
Yuxuan Guo, Haowei Xiong, Wai Tong
Journal
Visual Informatics, 2026
Shan Jin, Ruoqing Yang, Wai Tong, Lik-Hang Lee
Poster
IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW), 2026
Kam-Kwai Wong, Yi-Lin Ye, Wai Tong, Haobo Li, Kentaro Takahira, Aastha Bhatta, Sunil Poudyal, Charles Wang Wai Ng, Huamin Qu, Leni Yang
Conference
IEEE Pacific Visualization Symposium (PacificVis), 2026
Zheng Wei, Hyeonmin Lee, Yawei Zhao, Junxiang LIAO, Hao Li, Xian Xu, Hayoung Oh, Lik-Hang Lee, Wai Tong, Pan Hui
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), 2026
Zheng Wei, Jia Sun, Junxiang Liao, Lik-Hang Lee, Pan Hui, Huamin Qu, Wai Tong, Xian Xu
Conference
IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), 2025
Zheng Wei, Lik-Hang Lee, Wai Tong, Xian Xu, Chaozhe Zhang, Huamin Qu, Pan Hui
Journal
International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction (IJHCI), 2025
Wai Tong, Xiaolin Ni, Meng Xia
Workshop
International Workshop on XR Interactions within the Physical World (XR-Phy) @ ACM CHI, 2025
Wai Tong, Haobo Li, Meng Xia, Kam Kwai Wong, Ting-Chuen Pong, Huamin Qu, Yalong Yang
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), 2025
Zheng Wei, Jia Sun, Junxiang Liao, Lik-Hang Lee, Chan In Devin Sio, Pan Hui, Huamin Qu, Wai Tong, Xian Xu
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), 2025
🏆 IEEE VR 2025 Honorable Mention Award
Xian Xu, Wai Tong, Wei Zheng, Meng Xia, Lik-Hang Lee, Huamin Qu
Journal
Visual Informatics, 2024
Zheng Wei, Yuzheng Chen, Wai Tong, Xuan Zong, Huamin Qu, Xian Xu, Lik-Hang Lee
Conference
ACM International Conference on Multimedia (MM), 2024
Daniel Enriquez, Wai Tong, Chris North, Huamin Qu, Yalong Yang
Conference
ACM International Conference on Interactive Surfaces and Spaces (ISS), 2024
Zheng Wei, Shan Jin, Wai Tong, David Kei Man Yip, Pan Hui, Xian Xu
Poster
ACM SIGGRAPH, 2024
Wai Tong, Kento Shigyo, Lingping Yuan, Mingming Fan, Ting-Chuen Pong, Huamin Qu, Meng Xia
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), 2024
Wai Tong, Meng Xia, Huamin Qu
Poster
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Late-Breaking Work (CHI LBW), 2024
Qian Zhu, Zhuo Wang, Wei Zeng, Wai Tong, Weiyue Lin, Xiaojuan Ma
Conference
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), 2024
Xiaofu Jin, Wai Tong, Xiaoying Wei, Xian Wang, Emily Kuang, Xiaoyu Mo, Huamin Qu, Mingming Fan
Conference
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), 2024
Zheng Wei, Xian Xu, Lik-Hang Lee, Wai Tong, Huamin Qu, Pan Hui
Conference
ACM International Conference on Multimedia (MM), 2023
Linping Yuan, Wai Tong, Kentaro Takahira, Zikai Wen, Yalong Yang
Workshop
Multimodal Experiences for Remote Communication Around Data Online Workshop (MERCADO) @ IEEE Vis, 2023
Wai Tong, Linping Yuan, Zikai Wen, Huamin Qu
Poster
IEEE Visualization Conference (VIS), 2023
Haobo Li, Kentaro Takahira, Kam Kwai Wong, Leni Yang, Wai Tong, Huamin Qu
Poster
IEEE Visualization Conference (VIS), 2023
Leni Yang, Aoyu Wu, Wai Tong, Xian Xu, Zheng Wei, Huamin Qu
Conference
IEEE Pacific Visualization Symposium (PacificVis), 2023
Wai Tong, Meng Xia, Kam Kwai Wong, Doug Bowman, Ting-Chuen Pong, Huamin Qu, Yalong Yang
Conference
IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR), 2023
Invited to present at IEEE VIS 2023
Xian Xu, Wai Tong, Zheng Wei, Meng Xia, Lik-Hang Lee, Huamin Qu
Poster
IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW), 2023
Wai Tong, Zhutian Chen, Meng Xia, Leo Yu-Ho Lo, Linping Yuan, Benjamin Bach, Huamin Qu
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), 2022
🏆 IEEE VIS 2022 Honorable Mention Award
Invited to present at ACM SIGGRAPG Asia 2022
Aoyu Wu, Wai Tong, Haotian Li, Dominik Moritz, Yong Wang, Huamin Qu
Conference
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), 2022
Wai Tong*, Haotian Li*, Huan Wei*, Liwenhan Xie*, Yanna Lin*, Huamin Qu
(*: equal contribution)Poster
IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW), 2022
Aoyu Wu, Wai Tong, Tim Dwyer, Bongshin Lee, Petra Isenberg, Huamin Qu
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), 2020
Zhutian Chen, Wai Tong, Qianwen Wang, Benjamin Bach, Huamin Qu
Conference
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), 2020
Projects
Accessible Concert is a project with Lynn Vartan, Franco Perez, and Marian Eide that aims to make concert experiences more inclusive through sign language performances in immersive environments. My contribution focused on using AI to generate sign language from natural language and mapping it onto a 3D avatar for the performance.
Principal Investigator, 10/2024 - 06/2025
Awards
- 2026IEEE SciVis Contest 2026 Honorable Mention Award
- 2025IEEE VR 2025 Honorable Mention Award
- 2022IEEE VIS 2022 Honorable Mention Award
- 2022HKUST Overseas Research Award
- 2022hackUST Deloitte ESG Innovation Award
- 2019APICTA R&D Merit Award
- 2019HKICT Student Innovation Gold Award
Teaching Experience
- Courses@TAMU as instructor
- 2024–2026 FallVIST 272: Visual Computing
- 2024–2026 FallVIZA 652: Computing for Visualization I
- 2024 SpringVIST 173: Foundations of Visual Computing II
- 2024 SpringVIZA 662: Physical Computing for Art and Design
Contact
Address
1700 Research Parkway, College Station, Texas 77845 Email