Abstract

 

Since the embodied interaction paradigm was pervasive, research on emotions and affect has increased in the Human-Computer Interaction area and has enabled novel, creative applications of HCI. The present talk introduces the concept of “aesthetic computing” followed by the recent research studies on driving, robots, and arts, conducted at the VT Mind Music Machine Lab. For example, in driving studies, drivers’ performance and user experience have been improved by adding auditory displays and sonification, as well as gestural interactions for infotainment navigation. Interactive, musical robots have been designed to enhance social interactions of children with autistic spectrum disorders. This assistive robot project has evolved into new informal STEAM education, the “child-robot theater” afterschool programs. In art realm, audience members’ affective experiences have been enriched by adding audio augmented reality and shared VR devices. Our new technological platforms have also expanded artists’ expression possibilities and perceptual dimensions. This talk is expected to open up new potentials of creative applications of new technologies in various research domains.

 

Bio

 

Dr. Myounghoon Jeon (or Philart, meaning “love art”) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Department of Computer Science, by courtesy, at Virginia Tech, where he is directing the Mind Music Machine Lab. His research focuses on emotions and sound in Human-Computer/Robot Interaction. At VT, he serves as a senior fellow of the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology and executive committee for the Center for Human-Computer Interaction. His research has been supported by NSF, NIH, DOT and other sponsors, and industry partners and has yielded over 300 publications across flagship journals and conferences. Dr. Jeon received the Earl Alluisi Award for Early Career Achievement from the American Psychological Association, Division 21: Applied Experimental & Engineering Psychology. He is the immediate past president of the International Community for Auditory Display (ICAD) and now serves as an emeritus board member for ICAD. Dr. Jeon serves as an Associate/Senior Editor for four journals including International Journal of Human-Computer Studies. He completed his MS and PhD degrees in Engineering Psychology and HCI at Georgia Tech. He also earned his MS degree in Cognitive Sciences at Yonsei University in Korea and studied Film Scoring at the same university.