ISPR Presence News

Monthly Archives: September 2018

Call: Workshop on supporting collocated participation in large events at CSCW 2018

Call for Papers

Workshop on supporting collocated participation in large events
At CSCW 2018 – The 21st ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (http://cscw.acm.org/2018/)
November 4th, Jersey City, USA
https://hybridevent.wordpress.com/

Position paper deadline: October 10th

How can technology transform how people assemble and interact in-person for learning, work, and fun? Nowadays, backchannels and audience interaction systems, have provided the audience with a mediated channel to support their participation. We are seeing conferences, seminars, classes, festivals transform the audience experience through technologies that allow spectators to participate in the creation of the event’s content.

Such settings have a hybrid character by simultaneously offering channels for both face-to-face direct audience-performer interaction and for computer-mediated non-direct interaction. These two channels may complement each, overtake each other’s functions, or also create confusion among the performers and the audience and deteriorate the experience instead of improving it.… read more. “Call: Workshop on supporting collocated participation in large events at CSCW 2018”

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Refining presence to combat loneliness for children and the elderly

[Stories about the use of technology to connect children undergoing medical treatment with their school classmates, and to connect the isolated elderly with family and friends, are relatively common. Aside from highlighting new products in this area, the story below from BBC News highlights ways that designers of these technologies are refining the presence experiences they produce, including the use of one-way rather than two-way video, emphasizing sound over image and maintaining novelty and surprise. See the original story for six more images, a 1:52 minute video and links to related stories. –Matthew]

‘My robot makes me feel like I haven’t been forgotten’

Internet-connected robots that can stream audio and video are increasingly helping housebound sick children and elderly people keep in touch with teachers, family and friends, combating the scourge of isolation and loneliness.

By Padraig Belton, Technology of Business reporter
August 31, 2018

Zoe Johnson, 16, hasn’t been to school since she was 12.… read more. “Refining presence to combat loneliness for children and the elderly”

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Call: Culture Robot: 1st Workshop on Multi-Cultural Human-Robot Interaction

Call for Participation

Multi-Cultural Human-Robot Interaction Workshop
December 4, 2018
Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia
https://culturaldrones.wixsite.com/welcome

Deadline for abstracts: September 30, 2018

We are pleased to invite you to participate in this one-day workshop on Multi-Cultural Human-Robot Interaction, held on December 4th, 2018 as part as the AfriCHI conference in Windhoek Namibia.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:

This hands-on workshop brings together researchers and practitioners to discuss the cultural aspects of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) design. Recent work shows that the one fits all model of interaction might be obsolete, especially when considering natural interactions where people use gesture and voice, that are culturally dependent.

In the morning, attendees will present position papers. We will discuss ideas around social robotics and leverage everyone’s expertise to discuss cultural aspects of interaction design. We encourage the exchange of results and ideas for future research.… read more. “Call: Culture Robot: 1st Workshop on Multi-Cultural Human-Robot Interaction”

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Google’s Notable Women AR app puts faces of historic women on US currency

[Only men appear on U.S. paper currency; a new augmented reality app superimposes the images of notable women over them. This story is from Next Reality, where it includes a second image and a 1:37 minute video. All of the women and information about them are on the Notable Women website.

Nexus Studios adds a bit more detail: “The process of creating Notable Women required millimetric attention to detail in order to achieve seamless portrait transitions. Due to visual differences in each dollar bill denomination, 7 portraits needed to be made for each woman. This resulted in the creation of 700 portraits, each one individually designed and composed to resemble the texture of ink on a dollar bill.”

See also a May 2017 ISPR Presence News post about The Whole Story app, which uses AR to add virtual statues of notable women to the statues of men in public spaces in several cities.… read more. “Google’s Notable Women AR app puts faces of historic women on US currency”

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Call: AI, robotics and Internet of things issue of Revista de Bioética y Derecho

Call for Papers

Revista de Bioética y Derecho of the University of Barcelona
Monographic issue dedicated to artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of things
http://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/RBD/announcement/view/369

Deadline for submissions: 1 December 2018

Revista de Bioética y Derecho of the University of Barcelona announces a call for papers for a monographic issue dedicated to artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of things. There is a growing interest in the bioethical, social and legal implications of new technological developments, bringing us closer to a world that seemed to be only science fiction.

We invite submissions on all areas related to these topics, including, but not limited to, any of the following issues:

  • The concept of person, robot, and cyborg
  • Minors, robotics and the Internet
  • Impact on people’s freedom and privacy
  • Automated decision making and algorithms
  • Lovotics, person-to-person or person-to-robot affective development
  • Security and cyber-security
  • Assistive Technologies and Domotics
  • Digital currency or cryptocurrency (Blockchain)
  • The role of Big Data in GDPR, digital bias, and discrimination
read more. “Call: AI, robotics and Internet of things issue of Revista de Bioética y Derecho”
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Why we love robotic dogs, puppets and dolls

[This interesting link-filled piece from The Conversation examines the role and significance of a variety of medium-as-social-actor presence experiences for humans. The original version includes two more images. –Matthew]

Why we love robotic dogs, puppets and dolls

Brent Rodriguez-Plate, Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Hamilton College
September 13, 2018

There’s a lot of hype around the release of Sony’s latest robotic dog. It’s called “aibo,” and is promoted as using artificial intelligence to respond to people looking at it, talking to it and touching it.

Japanese customers have already bought over 20,000 units, and it is expected to come to the U.S. before the holiday gift-buying season – at a price nearing US$3,000.

Why would anyone pay so much for a robotic dog?

My ongoing research suggests part of the attraction might be explained through humanity’s longstanding connection with various forms of puppets, religious icons, and other figurines, that I collectively call “dolls.”… read more. “Why we love robotic dogs, puppets and dolls”

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Call: European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics (ECCE 2019)

CALL FOR PAPERS

31st European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics (ECCE 2019)
10-13 September, 2019, Belfast, Northern Ireland
http://ecce2019.eace.net

Due date for all paper submissions: 22 February 2019

ECCE 2019 is the 31st annual conference of the European Association of Cognitive Ergonomics (EACE). This leading conference in human-computer interaction, human factors design and cognitive engineering offers an unparalleled opportunity for both researchers and practitioners to exchange new ideas and practical experiences from a variety of domains. In addition to ACM proceedings, best papers will be published in the Behaviour & Information Technology Journal (Impact Factor =1.380).

Our special theme for ECCE in 2019 is ‘Designing for Cognition’. Interacting with digital technologies, apps, wearables, ‘Internet of Things’ can be cognitively and emotionally demanding in our everyday lives. Now more than ever, we need to consider how ‘Designing for Cognition’ can help us engage in and enjoy seamless intuitive interactions.… read more. “Call: European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics (ECCE 2019)”

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Virtual reality experience replicates life as a child with hearing loss

[This story from ABC News in Australia describes one of several efforts to use presence to provide patients and their family, friends and caregivers the experience of various health conditions. The original story includes four more pictures and the 1:50 minute 360 degree video (also available on YouTube). –Matthew]

[Image: The VR experience was filmed at a Sydney school with students from Tyler’s class. Credit: ABC Radio Sydney: Harriet Tatham]

Virtual reality experience replicates life as a child with hearing loss

By Harriet Tatham
September 24, 2018

For anybody with hearing loss, articulating the isolation it causes is almost impossible.

For a child, it’s even harder.

But a new virtual reality (VR) experience, designed to immerse users in a playground and classroom as a child with hearing loss, is helping to foster empathy in parents, teachers and other students.

“They didn’t think I could hear so little,” eight-year-old Tyler Potaka said of his peers.… read more. “Virtual reality experience replicates life as a child with hearing loss”

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Job: Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Game Studies at UC Riverside

[See last year’s position announcement here. –Matthew]

Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Game Studies
In the Department of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of California, Riverside
https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF00965

Applications received by November 8, 2018 will receive full consideration

The Department of Media and Cultural Studies (MCS) at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) invites applications for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Game Studies. This appointment will begin July 1, 2019.

We seek candidates with research expertise in Game Studies. Possible areas of interest include: gender and sexuality, queer and feminist approaches, critical race studies of games, serious games, indie games, political economy of games/media archeology, haptics and interface, gamification, game culture and identity, virtual epistemologies and ontologies, narratology, ludology and other approaches related to media and games. Additional expertise in film studies, cultural studies or production is a plus.… read more. “Job: Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Game Studies at UC Riverside”

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Philharmonia Orchestra’s new immersive 3D audio VR experiences put you inside the Orchestra

[The latest presence-evoking experiences from Philharmonia Orchestra take you on-stage during performances of works by Beethoven and Mahler. The abridged press release below via The Corner Shop PR provides the details. Find a news report on this topic in The Times (requires subscription). Luke Ritchie, Head of Innovation and Partnerships for the Orchestra, describes the development of the VR projects and the potential and challenges the format represents in a 2017 story in ArtsProfessional. A first person report on the earlier “Virtual Orchestra” experience is available from ClassicFM. The Philharmonia website indicates that all of the showings this month at the Southbank Centre in London are sold out, but the site features links to the VR films and an iPad app. –Matthew]

[Image: Source: FAD Magazine]

The Philharmonia Orchestra Brings Free Virtual Reality Experience To The Southbank Centre This September

  • Two New Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences, Presented In A Specially Created Space For Audiences Will Replicate The Full 3d Audio Model Of The Orchestra
  • VR Sound Stage Runs At The Royal Festival Hall Between 27 – 30 September

PRESS RELEASE – Thursday 30 August 2018

A new digital partnership between the Philharmonia Orchestra and Southbank Centre is set to open on 27 September with two immersive, surround-sound Virtual Reality (VR) experiences presented in a custom-built sound studio in the Royal Festival Hall foyer at Southbank Centre.… read more. “Philharmonia Orchestra’s new immersive 3D audio VR experiences put you inside the Orchestra”

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