ISPR Presence News

Monthly Archives: April 2012

Job: Postdoc at University of Kent – Kinetic User Interfaces and Multiuser 3D Virtual Worlds for Older People

University of Kent

Research Associate

Ref:  STM0275
Location:  Canterbury
Job Type:  Research
Contract Type:  Fixed Term
Salary Type:  Per Annum
Salary (£):  31020 – 35938

STM0275, School of Engineering and Digital Arts, Closing date: 20 May 2012

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to contribute technical knowledge and information management expertise to a EPSRC funded research programme, entitled “Kinetic User Interfaces and Multiuser 3D Virtual Worlds for Older People”. The aim of the proposed research programme is to conduct a detailed investigation on how Kinetic User Interfaces can be employed effectively to design novel 3D interfaces and interaction techniques for multiuser virtual worlds accessible to older people by modelling their behaviour whilst interacting with these technologies, developing and evaluating prototypes, as well as deriving detailed design recommendations for innovative 3D technology to support healthy ageing. The project is a partnership with SilverFit (http://www.silverfit.nl/read more. “Job: Postdoc at University of Kent – Kinetic User Interfaces and Multiuser 3D Virtual Worlds for Older People”

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Altadyn adds third dimension to Facebook

[A press release from Altadyn via Market Wire; background information including role of “sense of presence” is available at the Altadyn web site here]

ALTADYN® Adds Third Dimension to Facebook®

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwire – Apr 27, 2012) – Social Movie Watching in Your 3D Virtual Home, Social Photo Viewing of Your Holiday Pics During a Facebook® Hangout With Friends and 3D Immersive Social Gaming Are Among Enabled Apps, Thanks to ALTADYN®‘s Patent Pending Platform

ALTADYN® the leading provider of 3D web technology, today announced a new development platform. Offered in PaaS mode (Platform as a Service) on the cloud, the new platform has been designed for web developers, including Facebook® app developers, who want to create easily accessible sophisticated applications where users enter 3D immersive spaces and socialize virtually with each other.… read more. “Altadyn adds third dimension to Facebook”

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Job: Assistant Professor in HCI and Interactive Storytelling at National University of Singapore

Assistant Prof (Tenure Track) Position in HCI and Interactive Storytelling at National University of Singapore

The Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore has an opening for an assistant professor (tenure track) position in the area of HCI and interactive storytelling.

CNM’s “Interactive Media Design” area includes researchers and teachers concentrating on theoretical and production issues at the intersection of HCI concerns (usability, interface) and interactive arts/entertainment design (game design, cyberarts). Tenure-track faculty normally teach three courses per year and supervise honors and graduate research students. Compensation at NUS is highly competitive and includes eligibility for annual salary increments, performance bonuses, heavily subsidized housing, and other benefits, as well as generous research support.

We are seeking someone who conducts research, does creative work, and has teaching and/or industry experience at the intersection of HCI, interactive media design, and interactive storytelling.… read more. “Job: Assistant Professor in HCI and Interactive Storytelling at National University of Singapore”

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These creepy dolls are actually real humans

[From Gizmodo]

These Creepy Dolls Are Actually Real Humans

By Sam Biddle
Apr 20, 2012

Even if these were toys, [they’d] be super, super unsettling to look at. The dead eyes. The bleached skin. The lack of any discernible genitalia. But they’re flesh and blood humans, transformed into terrifying figurines [the photos are at the “Portraits & Fashion” link].

Photographer Hayden Wood’s brilliantly strange new project “Living Dolls,” shows off his career as an advertising and photo manipulation pro. Only now he’s advertising the Uncanny Valley instead of… things. Barbie and Ken, the quintessential image of friendliness and love, are now the stuff of nightmare. Like demonic Real Dolls. Excellent work, Hayden.… read more. “These creepy dolls are actually real humans”

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Call: HC2 VISIONS workshop – Human-Computer Confluence Research Challenges

Human-Computer Confluence Research Challenges
May 14-15, 2012, Vienna, Austria

MOTIVATION

HCI research over three decades has shaped a wide spanning research area at the boundaries of computer science and behavioral science, with an impressive outreach to how humankind is experiencing information and communication technologies in literally every breath of an individuals life.

The explosive growth of networks and communications, and at the same time radical miniaturization of ICT electronics have reversed the principles of human computer interaction. Up until now considered as the interaction concerns when humans approach ICT systems, more recent observations see systems approaching humans at the same time. Humans and ICT Systems apparently approach each other confluently.

Human Computer Confluence has been mentioned to become a research priority in “Horizon 2020” (2013-2020), the funding programme of the European Commission that follows after the 7th Framework Programme (FP7, 2007-2013).… read more. “Call: HC2 VISIONS workshop – Human-Computer Confluence Research Challenges”

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Darpa to troubled soldiers: Meet your new simulated therapist

[From Wired’s Danger Room blog]

Darpa to Troubled Soldiers: Meet Your New Simulated Therapist

By Katie Drummond
April 20, 2012

The Pentagon hasn’t made much progress in solving the PTSD crisis plaguing this generation of soldiers. Now it’s adding new staff members to the therapy teams tasked with spotting the signs of emotional pain and providing therapy to the beleaguered. Only this isn’t a typical hiring boost. The new therapists, Danger Room has learned, will be computer-generated “virtual humans,” used to offer diagnostics, and programmed to appear empathetic.… read more. “Darpa to troubled soldiers: Meet your new simulated therapist”

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Call: ICSRiM Student Conference on Music, Multimedia and Electronics 2012

ICSRiM Student Conference on
Music, Multimedia and Electronics 2012

Monday 18th June 2012
School of Music, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
mme2012@icsrim.org.ukhttp://www.pvac.leeds.ac.uk/icsmme/

Open Call for Proposals

iscMME 2012 welcomes the submission of a wide range of Sci-Arts research with particular focus on Music, Multimedia and Electronics. Submissions fall into four categories: (i) papers & presentations; (ii) posters; (iii) demonstrations or installations (iv) live performance & composition. Details and requirements for each category are specified below. All submissions will be reviewed by the iscMME program committee.… read more. “Call: ICSRiM Student Conference on Music, Multimedia and Electronics 2012”

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FOV2GO: USC researchers debut smartphone 3-D virtual reality viewer made out of cardboard

[From The Institute for Creative Technologies; a 1:09 minute video is here]

Out of the Box: USC Researchers Debut Smartphone 3-D Virtual Reality Viewer Made Out of Cardboard

Easy-to-assemble fold-out viewer transforms smartphones into portable immersive virtual reality systems. First 100 do-it-yourself VR viewers being distributed at IEEE Virtual Reality Conference in Orange County, March 4 – 8

March 05, 2012

Smart phones have endless applications that keep users connected to the real world. But researchers from the Mixed Reality (MxR) Lab at the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies are developing ways to use these ubiquitous devices to transport people to virtual worlds as well.

Beginning Sunday, March 4, at the IEEE Virtual Reality Conference Workshop on Off-The-Shelf Virtual Reality, they began handing hundreds of manila envelopes, each containing a FOV2GO, a portable fold-out iPhone and Android viewer that turns the smartphone screen into a 3-D virtual reality system. … read more. “FOV2GO: USC researchers debut smartphone 3-D virtual reality viewer made out of cardboard”

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Jobs: Researcher positions at University of Freiburg – Human and Robot Navigation in Structured Environments

OPEN POSITIONS

Postgraduate/PhD/Junior Researcher Positions
at the Transregional Collaborative Research Center
SFB/TR 8 Spatial Cognition, Universitaet Freiburg

Project R6-[SpaceGuide] ­ Human and Robot Navigation in Structured Environments

Under the condition of job release / (vorbehaltlich der Mittelfreigabe)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The mission of our research group is to better understand human wayfinding processes and their interaction with the environment. The overall aim is to employ cognitive science to work together with architects on improving the design of buildings with evidence-based design approaches as well as user-centered evaluation methods, ranging from real-world observation studies to Virtual Reality experimentation.

The goal of R6-SpaceGuide is to investigate human and robot navigation in structured environments. We combine basic and applied research and compare the influence of structured features and regularities on the successful wayfinding of human and robotic agents in complex, often public buildings like airports, hospitals or libraries.… read more. “Jobs: Researcher positions at University of Freiburg – Human and Robot Navigation in Structured Environments”

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Lukas Franciszkiewicz’s Faith Condition device lets you simulate an out-of-body experience

[From Fast Company’s Co.Design, where the story includes several images and a 2:38 minute video]

Heady Gadget Lets You Simulate An Out-Of-Body Experience

If the soul left the body, what would that feel like?

Many religions claim that the body is just a vessel for the soul. And at death, the soul doesn’t die, but it leaves the body to go somewhere else. How would that moment feel? Obviously, there’s really no way to know. Or is there?

Faith Condition, by Lukas Franciszkiewicz, is an ongoing project that explores the role of technology in the future of faith. His initial plan was to alter self-perception by “blurring the boundaries between the real and a virtual body.” He wanted to simulate the out-of-body experience, so he built a video rig that used a rear-mounted camera combined with video glasses, to give someone a view of themselves from the outside.… read more. “Lukas Franciszkiewicz’s Faith Condition device lets you simulate an out-of-body experience”

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