[Theory] [TTIC Talks] 5/15 TTIC Colloquium: Pedro Lopes, University of Chicago

[Brandie Jones]

*When:*         Monday, May 15th* at 11:30AM CT  *


*Where:*       Talk will be given *live, in-person* at

                       TTIC, 6045 S. Kenwood Avenue

                       5th Floor, Room 530


*Virtually:*     via Panopto (Livestream
<https://uchicago.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=f7ad1c5a-9995-42ad-af3d-afee0141db78>
)


*Who:           *Pedro Lopes, University of Chicago


*Title:*            Integrating interactive devices with the User’s Body


*Abstract:  * The main question that drives my research is: what is the
next interface paradigm that supersedes wearable devices? I argue that the
new paradigm is one in which interactive devices will integrate with the
user’s biological senses and actuators.


This way of engineering devices that intentionally borrow parts of the
user’s biology puts forward a new generation of miniaturized devices;
allowing us to circumvent traditional physical constraints. For instance,
in the case of my devices based on electrical muscle stimulation, they
demonstrate how our body-device integration circumvents the constraints
imposed by the size of motors used in traditional haptic devices (e.g.,
robotic exoskeletons). Taking this further, we can apply this integrated
approach to other modalities.

For instance, we engineered a device that delivers chemicals to the user to
generate temperature sensations, without the need to rely on cumbersome
thermal actuators, such as air conditioners or heaters. My approach to
miniaturizing devices is especially useful to advance mobile interactions,
such as in virtual or augmented reality, where users have a desire to
remain untethered & free. Integrating devices with the user’s body allows
to give users new physical abilities. For example, we have engineered a
device that allows users to locate odor sources by “smelling in stereo” as
well as a device that physically accelerates the user’s reaction time using
muscle stimulation, which allows users to steer to safety or even catch a
falling object that they would normally miss. While this integration can
offer many benefits (e.g., faster reaction time, realistic simulations in
VR/AR, or faster skill acquisition), it also requires tackling new
challenges, such as the question of agency: do we feel in control when our
body is integrated with an interface?

Together with our colleagues in neuroscience, we have been measuring how
our brain encodes agency to improve the design of this new type of
integrated interfaces. We found that, even in the extreme case of
interfaces that electrically control the user’s muscles, it is possible to
improve the sense of agency. More importantly, we found that it is only by
preserving the user’s sense of agency that these integrated devices provide
benefits even after the user takes them out

*Bio: *Pedro Lopes is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the
University of Chicago. Pedro focuses on integrating computer interfaces
with the human body—exploring the interface paradigm that supersedes
wearable computing. Some of these new integrated-devices include: muscle
stimulation wearable that allows users to manipulate tools they have never
seen before or that accelerate their reaction time, or a device
that leverages the sense of smell to create an illusion of temperature.
Pedro’s work has received a number of academic awards, such as five ACM
CHI/UIST Best Papers, Sloan Fellowship and NSF CAREER. Pedro’s research
also captured the interest of the public & media, covered by the New York
Times and was exhibited at Ars Electronica & World Economic Forum.



(More:https://lab.plopes.org)


-- 
*Brandie Jones *
*Executive **Administrative Assistant*
Toyota Technological Institute
6045 S. Kenwood Avenue
Chicago, IL  60637
www.ttic.edu
Working Remotely on Tuesdays
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