UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE "ENGAGEMENT, PLAY AND THERAPY IN INTERACTIVE AND VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS" THEMED DAY Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 10 am - 12 noon Lecture Theatre E350 University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Main Building The School of Computer Science is delighted to host a special theme morning with two external invited speakers who will present exciting approaches, concepts and applications of using engaging interactive and virtual environments for play and therapy. Everyone is welcome. Coffee/tea should be provided First Speaker: Eva Petersson (Aalborg University Esbjerg, Denmark) Title of the Talk: Designing interactive environments for non-formal learning Abstract: Eva Petersson will in her lecture present how the utilisation of empowering technology influences the users. communication and learning. Designing interactive environments for learning and therapy refers to the creation of a computer-mediated space that is targeted to be accessible by all, no matter ability or limitation, age or creed, preferences or desires. The space should be fun and engaging to be in so as to enhance action and interaction. Non-formal learning refers to a new perspective on learning, focussing on designs for non-formal learning, based on design and psychological theories, with examples from play and engagement within interactive environment situations. Learning and flow, aesthetics of learning and the relation between actions and learning will also be discussed. Biographical information of the presenter: Dr. Eva Petersson is an assistant professor; study coordinator at the Medialogy Bachelor and Master Education Program (see http://www.aaue.dk/medialogy/uk/index.php); and vice chancellor at Aalborg University Esbjerg in Denmark. She is member of the research group SensoramaLab (see http://sensoramalab.aaue.dk). She has been coordinating research projects in inclusive and participatory design, storytelling, creativity and learning processes and has been leading projects on physical and virtual toys as well as on toys for children with disabilities involving flexible methods of delivery for local, national and international users. Second Speaker: Tony Brooks (Aalborg University Esbjerg, Denmark) Title of the Talk: SoundScapes & ArtAbilitation: Rehabilitation through non-formal learning in Virtual Environments where human interaction is through non-intrusive sensor technologies that augment control in digital games and creative expression Abstract: SoundScapes originated in 1987 as an open system for performance art. It was founded by Associate Professor Tony Brooks of Aalborg University Esbjerg and has evolved to include interactive digital games and creative artistic expression that as interactive environments are utilised by all abilities and ages under a rehabilitation therapy philosophy. The system involves a Virtual Interactive Space (VIS) created as an interactive digital environment where human movement can for example be articulated through the participant's creative expressivity via music or painting, the same interaction can be used to control digital video games. Apparent from sessions and an achieved state of FLOW are indications of non-formal rehabilitation and non-formal learning attributes. The work has been presented globally at events such as the Olympic/Paralympic Cultural events in USA 1996 and Australia in 2000, and has been exhibited at leading Museums for Modern Art. SoundScapes was responsible for a European project (CAREHERE 2001) and has been awarded national government support for its work with acquired brain injured rehabilitation and telerehabilitation (HUMANICS 2001). Further developments include an annual ArtAbilitation conference that was established (2006) to assist in dissemination of the SoundScapes work. ArtAbilitation international workshops are also active in travelling globally to present and offer consultations for those active in the field. Brooks in 2006 was awarded the Danish research prize. Under the SoundScapes philosophy the human experience of Aesthetic Resonance is targeted. Non-intrusive, invisible volumetric sensor technologies source feed-forward data from natural 3D human participant movement, which is then mapped to digital multimedia feedback that is direct and immediate and experienced by the same participant. Targeted response for the participant is not therapy but rather fun and enjoyment from the playful and creative environment intervention. Through this stimulus-response iterative chain, closure is achieved of the participant's afferent-efferent neural loop which is an attribute that enhances the embedded non-formal learning. Optimised motivated engagement results in the phenomenon of aesthetic resonance. The same human data that is controlling the virtual environment attributes is monitored for system-human optimisation toward rehabilitation strategies. As a supplement for therapists the concept has been seen to augment motivation and engagement as well as to compliment the therapist's experience where traditionally sessions maybe enduring through the tediousness and laboriousness of intervention. The presentation will present the evolution of the SoundScapes body of research within the community of people with different abilities and limited functionality. Inherent non-formal learning attributes, design issues and practical empirical knowledge that has emerged from the research will be shared. International patents have resulted from the work. Biographical information of the presenter: Tony Brooks has since 1987 developed a body of work titled SoundScapes. The concept is based upon interactive art and game playing in the creation of multimedia room size environments where non-intrusive technologies empower intuitive interaction where gesture controls the feedback stimulus. The research has focused on persons with disabilities with a targeted goal of creating a new form of supplemental tool for therapists. SoundScapes has been at the core of International and national funded research projects funded for over 3 million Euros. The work has been presented globally including two Paralympic Cultural events (USA 1996 and Australia 2000), The European Culture Capital of Europe 1996 and 2000, The Danish NeWave in New York, USA 1999, exhibitions in leading museums of modern art. Dr. Brooks is the director of the SensoramaLab VR complex at the Aalborg University http://sensoramalab.aaue.dk where he leads a team of 4 post-doc researchers in exploring SoundScapes. In 1999 he was awarded the European Eureka prize for applied Multimedia and in 2006 he was awarded the Danish research prize "Vanfrefonden Forskerprisen" for SoundScapes. SoundScapes has evolved to be realised as an international conference titled ArtAbilitation as well as in a workshop format under ArtAbilitation that tours internationally. Event Organizers: Prof. Kerstin Dautenhahn and Dr. Ben Robins School of Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire