PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Sang Leigh

Also known as Sang-won Leigh

Sang Leigh is a researcher and designer who builds interactive technologies around human-robot and human-AI relationships. At Samsung Electronics, he leads software development of eyeCan, an open-source eye mouse for people with severe motor disabilities. He earns a PhD at MIT Media Lab in 2018 and explores human-machine play through Guitar Machine, which lets a person and a robot share the act of playing a guitar. After faculty and industry roles at Georgia Tech and Samsung Design Innovation Center, he joins Cornell Human Ecology in 2024 and directs the Machine Poetics Lab, where his group uses AI-powered prototypes to examine everyday interfaces.

Now at
Department of Human Centered Design
Works
60
Citations
474
h-index
14
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 27 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2011–2013

    Developing the eyeCan mouse

    At Samsung Electronics, he leads software development of eyeCan, a low-cost, open-source eye mouse for people with severe motor disabilities. A service plan with Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute calls for devices for more than 200 patients in 2012–2013.

  2. 2014

    Remnance of Form

    He is an artist-in-residence at Microsoft Research Studio 99 and creates Remnance of Form, an interactive light-and-shadow installation that lets visitors change a projected shadow by moving a ball or light.

  3. 2018

    A PhD at MIT Media Lab

    He earns a PhD at the MIT Media Lab in 2018 and also holds BS and MS degrees from KAIST.

  4. July 2019

    Guitar Machine

    He describes Guitar Machine, a robotic guitar attachment that lets a human artist and a robot share the act of playing. Musicians use it to explore new sounds and practice complex patterns.

  5. 2024

    Joining Cornell Human Ecology

    Before he joins Cornell Human Ecology in fall 2024, he works as a Senior Principal Creative Technologist at Samsung Design Innovation Center and as an assistant professor at Georgia Tech. He becomes an assistant professor in Human Centered Design.

  6. 2025

    Perversion of Interfaces

    His Machine Poetics Group presents Perversion of Interfaces, an exhibition of AI-powered prototypes that raises questions about when smart products become perverse.

  7. As of October 2026

    Assistant Professor at Cornell

    He is an assistant professor in Cornell’s Department of Human Centered Design and directs the Machine Poetics Lab. His work uses AI as a creative and critical design medium, with experimental objects that question how technology shapes everyday experience.

Career

  1. Since 2024Cornell University College of Human EcologyAssistant professor
  2. NowDepartment of Human Centered DesignDirector of the Machine Poetics Lab
  3. 2019–2021Georgia Institute of TechnologyAssistant professor
  4. 2014Microsoft ResearchArtist-in-residence
  5. 2011–2013SamsungSoftware development lead, Senior Principal Creative Technologist

Education

  1. 2018Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPhD
  2. KAISTBS
  3. KAISTMS

From the biography.

Checked career sources: human.cornell.edu, human.cornell.edu, sangww.net, events.cornell.edu.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Sang Leigh yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Sang Leigh | Cornell Human Ecology human.cornell.edu. Checked 26 October 2026.
  2. eyeCan ~ Sang-won Leigh sangww.net. Checked 26 October 2026.
  3. Remnance of Form - Microsoft Research microsoft.com. Checked 26 October 2026.
  4. Guitar Machine — MIT Media Lab www-prod.media.mit.edu. Checked 26 October 2026.
  5. Leigh explores ethics and product design in liminal contexts | Cornell Human Ecology human.cornell.edu. Checked 26 October 2026.
  6. Bovay Seminar Series: GenAI for Teaching and Learning Community of Practice - Cornell events.cornell.edu. Checked 26 October 2026.