Add audio-reactive origins, press coverage, and research funding

- Document original audio-reactive LED design that evolved into haptics
- Add Press & Features section with Hackaday article (2020)
- Add Mitacs grant for washable wearables research
- Explain signal-agnostic design philosophy in research context
- Add maker tip about swapping motors for LEDs
- Update landing page with audio-reactive subtitle and featured boxes

Highlights the project's evolution from sound→light to sound→haptics,
and emphasizes the modular, signal-agnostic control architecture.

Author: MissCrispenCakes

README.md

@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ Transform spatial information into tactile sensations with wearable haptic devic
 
 ## ✨ Features
 
+- **Audio-Reactive by Design**
+  - Originally built as audio-reactive LED wearables (sound → light patterns)
+  - Evolved into audio-haptic feedback systems (sound → tactile patterns)
+  - Signal-agnostic: responds to any OSC-formatted input (audio, sensors, game engines, etc.)
+
 - **Two Complete Implementations**
   - **Arduino + Bluetooth**: Portable system with up to 6 wireless haptic belts
   - **Raspberry Pi + I2C**: High-fidelity system with 8 channels and 120+ haptic effects
@@ -237,6 +242,13 @@ See [OSHWA Certification Guide](docs/OSHWA_CERTIFICATION.md) for step-by-step in
 
 See [AUTHORS.md](AUTHORS.md) for complete contributor details.
 
+## 📰 Press & Features
+
+- **[Hackaday](https://hackaday.com/2020/02/12/in-pursuit-of-haptics-for-a-better-vr-experience/)** - "In Pursuit of Haptics for a Better VR Experience" (February 2020)
+- **[Mitacs Grant](https://www.mitacs.ca/our-projects/washable-wearables-for-affordable-and-aesthetic-augmentation-of-visuo-tactile-sensory-perception-enhancement-in-mixed-reality/)** - "Washable Wearables for Affordable and Aesthetic Augmentation of Visuo-Tactile Sensory Perception Enhancement in Mixed Reality"
+
+> 💡 **Maker Tip**: Swap the haptic motors for LEDs and you've got a wearable light display! Same control protocol, different sensory modality. The original prototype used audio-reactive LEDs before evolving into haptic feedback. 🌈
+
 ## 💖 Support This Project
 
 If you find this project useful, consider:

docs/research/context.md

@@ -6,6 +6,35 @@ Academic and research context for On-Body Haptics project.
 
 This project builds upon decades of research in haptic feedback, tactile perception, and human-computer interaction. This page provides context and references for researchers using this platform.
 
+## Design Philosophy: Audio-Reactive Haptics
+
+The On-Body Haptics project originated as an **audio-reactive wearable LED system**. The first Arduino prototype responded to audio input - claps, music, and environmental sounds would trigger spatial light patterns worn around the body. This sound-to-light mapping proved so compelling that it inspired the next evolution: translating the same patterns into tactile feedback.
+
+### From Light to Touch
+
+The transition from LEDs to haptic motors revealed something interesting: **the control architecture didn't need to change**. The same OSC protocol that drove light patterns could drive haptic patterns. The same audio analysis that triggered LEDs could trigger vibrations. The system was inherently **signal-agnostic** - it doesn't care whether the input comes from:
+
+- Audio analysis (FFT, beat detection, amplitude)
+- MIDI controllers and musical instruments
+- Game engines and VR systems
+- Sensor networks (proximity, motion, biometric)
+- Creative coding platforms (Max/MSP, TouchDesigner, Processing)
+- Custom applications via OSC
+
+This flexibility emerged from the original audio-reactive design and became a core principle: **any signal can become a haptic experience**.
+
+### Hardware Modularity
+
+The same principle applies to outputs: swap haptic motors for LEDs and you have a wearable light display. Swap for speakers and you have a spatial audio system. The modular design means the platform supports experimentation across sensory modalities.
+
+### Research Context & Funding
+
+**Press Coverage:**
+- [Hackaday (2020)](https://hackaday.com/2020/02/12/in-pursuit-of-haptics-for-a-better-vr-experience/) - "In Pursuit of Haptics for a Better VR Experience"
+
+**Research Funding:**
+- [Mitacs Grant](https://www.mitacs.ca/our-projects/washable-wearables-for-affordable-and-aesthetic-augmentation-of-visuo-tactile-sensory-perception-enhancement-in-mixed-reality/) - "Washable Wearables for Affordable and Aesthetic Augmentation of Visuo-Tactile Sensory Perception Enhancement in Mixed Reality"
+
 ## Key Research Areas
 
 ### Haptic Feedback in VR/AR

index.html

@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@
     <div class="hero">
         <h1>🎮 On-Body Haptics</h1>
         <p>Open-source wearable haptic feedback systems for spatial audio, VR/AR, and interactive installations</p>
+        <p style="font-size: 1rem; opacity: 0.85; margin-top: -1rem;">Born as audio-reactive LED wearables, evolved into signal-agnostic haptic feedback</p>
         <div class="buttons">
             <a href="https://github.com/MissCrispenCakes/On-body-haptics" class="button" target="_blank">View on GitHub</a>
             <a href="https://github.com/MissCrispenCakes/On-body-haptics#-quick-start" class="button secondary" target="_blank">Quick Start Guide</a>
@@ -156,6 +157,14 @@ <h3>💰 Low Cost</h3>
                 <h3>🎨 Production Ready</h3>
                 <p>Used in VR experiences, art installations, research projects, and interactive exhibits</p>
             </div>
+            <div class="feature" style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #ffeaa7 0%, #fdcb6e 100%); border: 2px solid #f39c12;">
+                <h3>💡 Maker Tip</h3>
+                <p>Swap the motors for LEDs → instant wearable light display! Same OSC protocol, different sensory experience. The original prototype was audio-reactive LEDs. 🌈</p>
+            </div>
+            <div class="feature" style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #a29bfe 0%, #6c5ce7 100%); color: white;">
+                <h3>📰 Featured</h3>
+                <p><a href="https://hackaday.com/2020/02/12/in-pursuit-of-haptics-for-a-better-vr-experience/" target="_blank" style="color: white; text-decoration: underline;">Hackaday 2020</a> - "In Pursuit of Haptics for a Better VR Experience"</p>
+            </div>
         </div>
 
         <div class="links">