In Memoriam - Professor Vincent Hayward
May 10th marks the end of an era in haptics. Professor Vincent Hayward, affectionately known as the "Godfather of Haptics," passed away at 68. I'm still stunned by the loss of someone who has been a mentor, colleague, advisor, and friend to many of us in the haptics community. Vincent (1955-2023) was a luminous mind, remarkable scholar, and esteemed community member. We all live in the shadow of his exceptional intellect, passion for teaching, and unwavering commitment to his research. Vincent inspired so many, touching the lives of numerous friends, colleagues, and trainees, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to resonate within the scientific community.
Vincent Hayward's professional focus centered on exploring touch and haptics, robotics, and control – where his contributions are foundational to much of the current state of the art. However, his legacy should not be measured in academic output. Vincent displayed a profound commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering their growth. He was a mentor and source of inspiration to me and so many in our field. Indeed, almost all The Haptics Club staff studied directly under or was hosted by Vincent during our careers.
We want to express our condolences to Vincent's friends and family. To the Actronika team, his countless protege and mentees – students and fellow academics alike – and anyone whose life was touched by Vincent's light. We're sorry for your loss. As an act of collective remembrance, I have enabled the comments and ask that you share below a fond memory you have of Vincent and how he impacted your life.
Vincent began his academic career in 1989 at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McGill University, starting as an assistant and rising to first associate and then full professor. His legacy in Montreal cannot be understated, with dozens of haptic startups spinning out of his research and students. In 2008 Vincent joined the Université Pierre et Marie Curie 2008 as part of ISIR – The Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics. While there, the power of his research was acknowledged with multiple grants, including a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grant. In 2017-2018, Professor Hayward temporarily departed, assuming the role of Professor of Tactile Perception and Technology at the School of Advanced Studies, University of London. This notable appointment was made possible by a Leverhulme Trust Fellowship. Upon his return to Paris, Vincent served as scientific advisor to Actronika SAS, a startup company based in Paris dedicated to advancing haptic technology. His involvement exemplified his commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications, helping commercialize the Haptuator line of Voice Coil Actuators and the award-winning Skinetic Vest. He was elected a Fellow of the IEEE in 2008 and a French Academy of Sciences member in 2020.
Vincent's brilliance as a scientist was matched by his radiant personality and insatiable enthusiasm for knowledge. Vincent embodied a collective, bon vivant energy, taking time and devoting energy to anyone in the community who asked. Vincent could never turn down the chance to share a drink and knowledge, a staple at academic conferences and after-hours sessions that would last until the early morning hours. I first met Vincent in 2018, during my studies at the Delft University of Technology. I had trekked to Paris alongside my advisor Professor Jess Hartcher-O'Brien as part of an independent research elective course. Jess had come to work on some follow-up work to her ERC while I had sweet-talked my way into Vincent's tribometer lab to attempt to extract key perceptual features from textile textures. Deep in the bowels of ISIR, I was first treated to the infamous Hayward hospitality. Vincent sat across from me and, without much of an introduction, took the next two hours walking me through his thoughts on my proposed research project. Somehow feeling simultaneously dumber and significantly smarter, I was taken to lunch with the rest of the cohort. Over wine and a fantastic French University cafeteria lunch, I saw firsthand the bond and community Vincent created around him. While my data didn't amount to much, Vincent and I stayed in touch over the next few years, discussing different ways to potentially someday improve the experimental data capture and how to potentially implement it.
While I never continued the project, I remember that week in Paris well. If someone who had accomplished so much would take time and energy for someone who had accomplished so little, how could I not be drawn in? The camaraderie and community of haptics drew me into haptics, and Vincent cemented that in my mind as my calling. When I first met Vincent in person in the dingy basements under the ISIR pyramid, I had known him much longer. His paper – Do It Yourself Haptics, was my introduction to haptics. He inspired me then, and he continues to inspire me today. The haptic illusions he showed me are how I kick off my introduction to haptics lectures. I hope to continue his legacy of community and camaraderie, and hope I can spark passion in someone the way he sparked passion in me. Vincent will be missed by many but will hardly be forgotten.
