Kevin Hoil Yoo is the Founder and CEO of Haptic, a pioneering technology company redefining how humans interact with information through the universal language of touch. Haptic has developed patented innovations in haptic navigation, most notably the HapticNav system, which transforms spatial data into tactile feedback for screen-free, audio-free navigation across smartphones, wearables, and smart glasses.
Yoo’s work bridges design, engineering, and accessibility, earning recognition from global institutions including the National Science Foundation and platforms like TechCrunch, where Haptic (formerly WearWorks) was named a Startup Battlefield Finalist. His vision led to the development of the Wayband, a wearable that enabled the first blind person to run the NYC Marathon without sighted assistance - an achievement that gained international coverage from outlets such as CNN.
A multi-disciplinary designer by training, Yoo’s work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and Dubai Design Week. He is a recipient of the Bauhaus Award, German Design Award, and has been awarded multiple patents at the intersection of accessibility, wearable technology, and spatial computing. Yoo is a thought leader in inclusive innovation and is positioning Haptic as a foundational layer for next-generation human-machine interaction.
