Abstract Group activities like dancing, singing, and interactive games that require coordinated social engagement can foster a sense of unity and enhance relationships. However, engaging in these activities with people far away, even in virtual reality (VR), remains challenging due to issues like latency in VR. This latency can interrupt the feeling of moving in sync, leading to a negative user... Group activities like dancing, singing, and interactive games that require coordinated social engagement can foster a sense of unity and enhance relationships. However, engaging in these activities with people far away, even in virtual reality (VR), remains challenging due to issues like latency in VR. This latency can interrupt the feeling of moving in sync, leading to a negative user experience. Instead of feeling united, individuals often feel isolated and out of step. Our project focused on enhancing the synchronization of behaviours in VR; we aim to create new ways to design interactions for these activities, allowing people to dance, create music, and play together from a distance. We are curious about what types of activities people would find most beneficial, in what contexts, and with whom. We share our initial findings from interviews that explored these questions, offering a starting point for understanding how users view potential interactions and the need for social VR experiences. Read More Read Less

Abstract There’s a growing curiosity regarding the possible applications of virtual reality beyond gaming, such as in therapeutic settings. This demonstration paper delves into a virtual reality application aimed at simulating a sensory room, which aids in addressing sensory challenges prevalent in individuals with autism and other conditions. It covers the creation journey, the features included in the program, and the... There’s a growing curiosity regarding the possible applications of virtual reality beyond gaming, such as in therapeutic settings. This demonstration paper delves into a virtual reality application aimed at simulating a sensory room, which aids in addressing sensory challenges prevalent in individuals with autism and other conditions. It covers the creation journey, the features included in the program, and the application’s research potential. Read More Read Less

Abstract As the automotive industry progresses towards greater degrees of autonomous driving, reaching Level 3 automated driving is a pivotal moment. Cars can operate independently within certain limits at this level, but the driver must be prepared to resume control when necessary. Helping the driver stay aware of their surroundings in these situations is crucial. This paper examines how Attentive User... As the automotive industry progresses towards greater degrees of autonomous driving, reaching Level 3 automated driving is a pivotal moment. Cars can operate independently within certain limits at this level, but the driver must be prepared to resume control when necessary. Helping the driver stay aware of their surroundings in these situations is crucial. This paper examines how Attentive User Interfaces (AUIs) equipped with advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) can meet this challenge. Instead of using clear, direct alerts, we suggest that AUIs developed with innovative AI methods like large language models or diffusion models can subtly enhance situational awareness (SA) without negatively increasing the driver’s workload. Therefore, we outline five approaches for generative AI to enhance takeover performance and improve road safety in the long run. Read More Read Less