From Assistive Tech & Robots to Virtual Worlds & Embodiment
How do assistive technology and social robotics connect to virtual worlds and gaming?
In this talk, I will explore three studies highlighting the role of embodiment in both physical and virtual spaces. First, we examine how users respond to virtual assistants providing critical feedback — does it matter whether the assistant appears as a human, an animal, or a robot? In the second study, we investigate how design decisions for a zoomorphic social robot with speech emotion recognition influences its acceptance among the elderly. Shifting to generational perspectives, we dive into a survey exploring how millennials (Generation Y) and Gen Z perceive virtual worlds and the ethical challenges they associate with them. Finally, we take a glimpse into the future with an ongoing intercultural study comparing how individuals from the United States and Germany align — or diverge — in their views on gaming, avatars, and embodiment.
Speaker
Oliver Korn
Oliver Korn is a professor of human-computer interaction (HCI) at Offenburg University, Germany, and the founder of the Affective & Cognitive Institute (ACI). He also serves as dean for research and directs the OGFLab startup center.
A certified project manager and senior member of ACM, his research focuses on context-aware systems, assistive technologies, affective computing, virtual worlds, and gamification. At ACI, he leads an interdisciplinary team dedicated to designing intuitive systems that adapt to users’ contexts and emotional states, with a strong emphasis on engagement, enjoyment, and accessibility for vulnerable groups. To further this vision, he established the bachelor’s program “Virtual Worlds & Game Technologies” in 2023.
His work has been featured at ACM CHI, ASSETS, and other leading conferences. He has edited two Springer books, produced a science comic, and served as chair of ACM PETRA (2018–2021).
Contact
If you have questions about this event, please contact Kimmy Fox.
