10:30-11:30, 27 August, CMIC, NEC House

Abstract: Empathic Computing is a new approach to collaboration focusing on creating shared understanding between people. This presentation will give a brief introduction to the topic and an overview of the research of the Empathic Computing laboratory (ECL) at the University of Auckland. The ECL is focused on using AR, VR and physiological sensing to create new ways for people to collaborate together. Recent projects have focused on sharing eye gaze and gesture remotely and measuring brain synchronisation in shared tasks. The talk will present these topics and discuss important areas for on-going research.

Bio: Mark Billinghurst is Professor at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, Australia, and Professor in the Bio-Engineering Institute at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He earned a PhD in 2002 from the University of Washington and researches how virtual and real worlds can be merged, publishing over 400 papers in topics such as wearable computing, and Augmented Reality. Prior to joining the University of South Australia and University of Auckland he was founding Director of the HIT Lab NZ at the University of Canterbury. In 2013 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.​