On Monday, March 2, 2026, as part of the CIS Seminar Series, Dr. Youjeong Kim presented her research on digital identity, immersive media, and the design of interactive systems that influence cognition and behavior. Her talk was followed by a social hour at Mānoa Gardens, where students had the opportunity to continue the conversation with Dr. Kom (the newest member of the CIS graduate faculty). Mahalo to everyone who joined!
Title:
From Identity to Immersion: Designing Systems that Influence
Abstract:
Digital systems increasingly shape how we construct identity, experience immersion, and respond to information. This talk traces the evolution of my research from early studies on online identity and avatar customization to more recent work on immersive and participatory systems, including virtual reality, digital story-drawing, and VR-based escape room. Beginning with the question of how self-created digital identities influence information processing, my work has examined how customization activates agency and motivation within mediated environments. As technologies evolved, this line of inquiry expanded to immersive systems, exploring how embodiment, presence, and interactivity amplify psychological impact. More recently, I have investigated inclusion as a design principle, studying participatory digital storytelling, culturally responsive health communication systems, and immersive interventions such as VR escape rooms designed to foster critical engagement with misinformation. Across these projects, I argue that influence is not simply embedded in messages but is structured into the design of systems themselves. By examining identity activation, immersive affordances, and inclusion in digital environments, this talk proposes a framework for understanding how interdisciplinary approaches can shape the next generation of immersive systems.
Bio:
Youjeong Kim is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication and Information at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Her research examines how digital identity, immersive media, and emerging technologies influence cognition and behavior. She has published extensively on avatar customization, virtual reality, AI-mediated communication, and persuasive systems in journals such as Computers in Human Behavior and Health Communication. Her recent work explores participatory digital storytelling, culturally responsive health communication systems, and VR-based misinformation interventions. She directs interdisciplinary projects that integrate system design, experimental research, and immersive media development.