Related papers: Towards Inclusive Avatars: Disability Representati…
In this paper, we introduce a concept called ''virtual co-embodiment'', which enables a user to share their virtual avatar with another entity (e.g., another user, robot, or autonomous agent). We describe a proof-of-concept in which two…
Datasets sourced from people with disabilities and older adults play an important role in innovation, benchmarking, and mitigating bias for both assistive and inclusive AI-infused applications. However, they are scarce. We conduct a…
Community participation is an important aspect of an individuals physical and mental well-being. This participation is often limited for persons with disabilities, especially those with ambulatory impairments due to the inability to…
Navigational challenges significantly impact the independence and mobility of Individuals with Visual Impairment (IVI). While numerous assistive technologies exist, their adoption remains limited due to usability challenges, financial…
With app-based interaction increasingly permeating all aspects of daily living, it is essential to ensure that apps are designed to be \emph{inclusive} and are usable by a wider audience such as the elderly, with various impairments (e.g.,…
The integration of collaborative robots (cobots) in industrial settings raises concerns about worker well-being, particularly due to reduced social interactions. Avatars - designed to facilitate worker interactions and engagement - are…
Although pervasive sensing technologies are increasingly capable of continuously detecting human emotional states, there is still a critical challenge: how to unobtrusively communicate this sensed data back to the user. Realistic avatars…
Rises in the number of animal abuse cases are reported around the world. While chatbots have been effective in influencing their users' perceptions and behaviors, little if any research has hitherto explored the design of chatbots that…
People with visual impairment (PVI) must interact with a world they cannot see. Remote sighted assistance has emerged as a conversational/social support system. We interviewed participants who either provide or receive assistance via a…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing assistive technologies. It offers innovative solutions to enhance the quality of life for individuals with visual impairments. This review examines the development, applications, and impact of…
Digital identity seems like a prerequisite for digital democracy: how can we ensure "one person, one vote" online without identifying voters? But digital identity solutions - ID checking, biometrics, self-sovereign identity, and trust…
Like sighted people, visually impaired people want to share photographs on social networking services, but find it difficult to identify and select photos from their albums. We aimed to address this problem by incorporating state-of-the-art…
Despite recent progress in developing animatable full-body avatars, realistic modeling of clothing - one of the core aspects of human self-expression - remains an open challenge. State-of-the-art physical simulation methods can generate…
Many people often take walking for granted, but for individuals with mobility disabilities, this seemingly simple act can feel out of reach. This reality can foster a sense of disconnect from the world since walking is a fundamental way in…
Augmented Reality (AR) solutions are providing tools that could improve applications in the medical and industrial fields. Augmentation can provide additional information in training, visualization, and work scenarios, to increase…
Photorealistic 3D avatar generation has rapidly improved in recent years, and realistic avatars that match a user's true appearance are more feasible in Mixed Reality (MR) than ever before. Yet, there are known risks to sharing one's…
This paper proposes a multidimensional framework for Metaverse Identity, addressing its definition, guiding principles, and critical challenges. Metaverse Identity is conceptualized as a users digital self, encompassing personal attributes,…
Digital technologies are reshaping how people experience their surroundings, often pulling focus toward virtual spaces and making it harder to stay present and engaged. Wearable augmented reality (AR), by embedding digital information into…
Facial expression recognition has gained significance as a means of imparting social robots with the capacity to discern the emotional states of users. The use of social robotics includes a variety of settings, including homes, nursing…
Virtual avatars offer new opportunities to reshape communication experiences beyond traditional live video. However, it remains unclear how avatar representations influence communication anxiety for English as a Second Language (ESL)…