Month: February 2021

Call: 6th International Workshop on Human Aspects in Adaptive and Personalized Interactive Environments (HAAPIE 2021)

Published:

February 26, 2021

In memory of Prof. George Samaras Call for Papers HAAPIE 2021: 6th International Workshop on Human Aspects in Adaptive and Personalized Interactive Environments In conjunction with ACM UMAP 2021 21-25 June 2021 ONLINE from Utrecht, the Netherlands http://haapie.cs.ucy.ac.cy/ Paper submission deadline: 26 March 2021 HAAPIE 2021 is the 6th International Workshop on Human Aspects in Adaptive and Personalized Interactive Environments that will be held ONLINE in conjunction with ACM UMAP 2021, 21-25 June 2021 from Utrecht, the Netherlands. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES State-of-the-art approaches in adaptation and personalization research consider user models that mostly maintain information regarding the “traditional” user characteristics…
Read more: Call: 6th International Workshop on Human Aspects in Adaptive and Personalized Interactive Environments (HAAPIE 2021)
How and why people are using VR during the pandemic

Published:

February 26, 2021

[This story from the New Statesman provides some interesting examples of how and why people have been using virtual reality during the pandemic and the role of (especially social) presence in their experiences. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images For Samsung] How the pandemic made virtual reality mainstream As lockdowns encourage people to turn to technology for social connection, distraction and exercise, VR no longer seems an overpriced or mystifying pastime. By Sarah Manavis 25 February 2021 When I logged on to the fitness app Strava three weeks into the current lockdown, I was shocked to see that one of…
Read more: How and why people are using VR during the pandemic
Call: AI-2021 – BCS SGAI International Conference on Innovative Techniques and Applications of Artificial Intelligence

Published:

February 25, 2021

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS AI-2021: 41st BCS SGAI International Conference on Innovative Techniques and Applications of Artificial Intelligence Cambridge, UK [see note below] December 14th-16th 2021 http://www.bcs-sgai.org/ai2021/ NOTE: The SGAI annual conference series returns to Cambridge. Subject to COVID-related problems our annual conference will return to its usual venue, Peterhouse College, Cambridge, this year. In the event of serious COVID issues still remaining in the UK as the date approaches, or significant international travel restrictions, special arrangements will be made. Organised by BCS SGAI: The British Computer Society Specialist Group on Artificial Intelligence (a EurAi Member Society). The leading series of…
Read more: Call: AI-2021 – BCS SGAI International Conference on Innovative Techniques and Applications of Artificial Intelligence
AI can now turn you into a fully digital, realistic talking clone

Published:

February 25, 2021

[The technology that enables the creation and use of digital humans capable of evoking social presence is evolving quickly; as PetaPixel reports, one company has debuted a service that lets anyone “create a fully digital clone of themselves” which (who?) can then be made to appear “on “camera” saying anything in any language. The implications are both fascinating and, as the author notes, “daunting.” See the original story for the two short videos mentioned and see the Hour One website for examples and links to other press coverage. –Matthew] AI Can Now Turn You Into a Fully Digital, Realistic Talking…
Read more: AI can now turn you into a fully digital, realistic talking clone
Call: 14th and 15th International Conferences on e-Learning and Innovative Pedagogies

Published:

February 24, 2021

Call for Abstracts/Proposals Fourteenth International Conference on e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies Online Only University of the Aegean – Rhodes Campus Rhodes, Greece 5–6 May 2021 https://ubi-learn.com/2021-conference Late proposal deadline: 5 April 2021 Fifteenth International Conference on e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies Blended (In-Person & Online; see note below) Changhua City, Taiwan 15-16 April 2022 https://ubi-learn.com/2022-conference Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 15th March 2022 NOTE: Reimagining the Scholarly Conference To support the range of options, and flexibility needed in our current climate, we will offer a blended conference experience. You do not need to commit either to a place-based or virtual presentation at the…
Read more: Call: 14th and 15th International Conferences on e-Learning and Innovative Pedagogies
The soothing, digital rooms of YouTube ambience videos

Published:

February 24, 2021

[Even before entering academia I was intrigued with how non-interactive media including television and radio can evoke effective presence illusions, so I find this story from The New York Times particularly interesting. In his popular blog Kottke.org Jason Kottke notes that the videos described in the story are “related to slow TV and other meditative videos [he’s] posted over the years (e.g. the idling Arctic icebreaker & Tibetan singing bowl music.” See the original NYT story for five video examples and an additional image. –Matthew] The Soothing, Digital Rooms of YouTube Ambience videos pair relaxing soundscapes with animated scenery to…
Read more: The soothing, digital rooms of YouTube ambience videos
Call: DesAIn – International Conference on the impact of AI on Contemporary Design

Published:

February 23, 2021

CALL FOR PAPERS DesAIn – International Conference on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Contemporary Design 25 May, 2021 Online https://design.hit.ac.il/desaign/ Deadline for abstracts: 25 March 2021 In the new and complex techno-human reality in which designers function today, the clear distinction between humans and machines that has characterized modern Western thought in the past is becoming increasingly blurred: Computer systems and code logic are embedded in the most essential characteristics of human existence, while automated machines are acquiring traits typical of living systems. Thanks to new developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), these new algorithm-based machines…
Read more: Call: DesAIn – International Conference on the impact of AI on Contemporary Design
New virtual reality tool aims to reduce aviation crashes

Published:

February 23, 2021

[This story from NPR describes a new in-flight form of virtual reality training for pilots; the original story includes a 3-minute audio version, related links, and three more images, one of which has a caption that quotes pilot Jonathan Johnson saying “the VR technology was ‘like no other [training] flight I’ve flown’ and pilot Jerry Griffin saying ‘It doesn’t get any realer than that.’” –Matthew] [Image: The virtual reality system uses a clear plastic film strapped to the pilot’s helmet. Seen here, Jonathan Johnson’s view is obscured by “clouds.” What the pilot “sees” is controlled by an iPad. Credit: Russell…
Read more: New virtual reality tool aims to reduce aviation crashes
Call: Research toolkits for Immersive Promotion Design Ltd.

Published:

February 22, 2021

IMMERSIVE PROMOTION DESIGN LTD.: CALL FOR RESEARCH TOOLKITS Immersive Promotion Design Ltd. is a new marketing consultancy for the world of XR, supporting Virtual, Augmented & Mixed Reality creatives and businesses to better communicate with their audiences about the magic of immersive content. It builds on sector-development research funded by StoryFutures Academy and Bristol+Bath Creative R+D, and brings together expertise from the BBC VR Hub, Limina Immersive, StoryCentral, Raucous, Bath Spa University and beyond. Central to our approach to working with industry is that it is underpinned by research, and so we are now looking to further build our network…
Read more: Call: Research toolkits for Immersive Promotion Design Ltd.
NICOBO, Panasonic’s new cat-like “weak robot,” is a purposely imperfect companion for these times

Published:

February 22, 2021

[The most widely-cited story about Panasonic’s new companion robot NICOBO, which is sure to evoke medium-as-social-actor presence, is from Gizmodo, where it begins with this: “In a time when even basic human interactions are discouraged for safety reasons, there’s an even greater demand for alternate sources of companionship. But if you’re not ready for the responsibilities of a dog or a cat, Panasonic has introduced yet another companion robot that dutifully pays attention to you through bouts of flatulence—just like a real pet.” Designboom’s coverage adds this: “In order to realize the ‘new form of happiness,’ we have focused on…
Read more: NICOBO, Panasonic’s new cat-like “weak robot,” is a purposely imperfect companion for these times
Call: “Designing Interactions for the Ageing Populations” issue of Gerontechnology

Published:

February 19, 2021

Call for Papers: Special Issue of the Gerontechnology Journal: Designing Interactions for the Ageing Populations Special issue editors: Sayan Sarcar (University of Tsukuba), Cosmin Munteanu (University of Toronto Mississauga) We are open to receive submissions. However, papers submitted before mid-March will be considered for the first round of the review process. First-round notification to authors: Middle of April Revised and resubmitted version due (for the first round): End of May 2021 Special issue publication timeline: August-September 2021 This special issue advances the study and design of digital software interfaces, particularly mobile, wearable, IoT, or conversational for the aging population. The…
Read more: Call: “Designing Interactions for the Ageing Populations” issue of Gerontechnology
HuggieBot 2.0: A soft and human-size robot that hugs users on request

Published:

February 19, 2021

[With the benefits of and need for hugs taking on new importance during the pandemic, this story from Tech Xplore is particularly interesting. It’s about a new and improved successor to the earlier hugging robot HuggieBot 1.0 and plans for a commercial version that will allow people to hug each other via the robot. See the original version of the story for a second image, and for more information see the new paper it mentions, a June 2018 ISPR Presence News post about the first iteration of HuggieBot, and Alexis Block’s website. –Matthew] HuggieBot 2.0: A soft and human-size robot…
Read more: HuggieBot 2.0: A soft and human-size robot that hugs users on request

International Society
for Presence Research

Month: February 2021

Call: 6th International Workshop on Human Aspects in Adaptive and Personalized Interactive Environments (HAAPIE 2021)

How and why people are using VR during the pandemic

Call: AI-2021 – BCS SGAI International Conference on Innovative Techniques and Applications of Artificial Intelligence

AI can now turn you into a fully digital, realistic talking clone

Call: 14th and 15th International Conferences on e-Learning and Innovative Pedagogies

The soothing, digital rooms of YouTube ambience videos

Call: DesAIn – International Conference on the impact of AI on Contemporary Design

New virtual reality tool aims to reduce aviation crashes

Call: Research toolkits for Immersive Promotion Design Ltd.

NICOBO, Panasonic’s new cat-like “weak robot,” is a purposely imperfect companion for these times

Call: “Designing Interactions for the Ageing Populations” issue of Gerontechnology

HuggieBot 2.0: A soft and human-size robot that hugs users on request

ISPR Presence News

Search ISPR Presence News:

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

Recent Comments