Thematic Session 7

THEMATIC SESSION #7

Marta Mondellini

STIIMA, National Research Council, Italy

• marta.mondellini@stiima.cnr.it

Nicola Capece

University of Basilicata, Department of Engineering, Potenza, Italy

• nicola.capece@unibas.it

Mario Covarrubias

Politecnico di Milano, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lecco, Italy

• mario.covarrubias@polimi.it

Giuseppe Caggianese

National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for High-Performance Computing and Networking (ICAR), Napoli, Italy

• giuseppe.caggianese@cnr.it

Nowadays the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with modern Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) technologies and eXtended Reality (XR), offers unprecedented opportunities for innovation. This thematic session aims to explore how AI while acting as a catalyst, interacts with broader HCI methods to enhance user experiences, foster engagement, and address critical Human Factors. The session will examine the synergies between XR, AI-driven personalization, and adaptive systems, alongside non-AI-based approaches to ensure inclusivity. By addressing measurement techniques and methodologies, the session will highlight how HCI researchers and practitioners can advance the field through rigorous evaluation strategies that support various applications in different immersive environments scenarios such as Rehabilitation, Special Education, Cultural Heritage, and emerging platforms like Metaverse. This dialogue aims to create a roadmap for designing, implementing, and assessing next-generation HCI systems that balance technological possibilities with user-centric considerations.

The list of topics includes (but it is not limited to) the following:

• AI-Driven Personalization in Human-Computer Interaction.
• Measuring User Experience (UX) in Immersive Environments and AI-enhanced Systems.
• Cognitive Load Evaluation in Augmented HCI Systems.
• Human Factors in Immersive Technologies: Metrological Approaches.
• Human Factors in the Design of AI-Powered Interfaces.
• Evaluation Frameworks for Usability Assessment.
• Real-Time Feedback Systems in Human-AI Interaction.
• Emotional, Cognitive and Behavioral Responses in Immersive Human-Computer Interaction.
• Measuring Trust, Ethics, and Acceptance in AI-Augmented Interaction.
• Multimodal Interaction and Performance Measurement.
• Designing for Accessibility in Next-Generation HCI Systems.
• Data-Driven Insights for HCI Design and Optimization.
• Metrics and Validation Protocols in AI-Enhanced HCI.
• Adaptive Interfaces in XR.
• Next-Generation Tools for Immersive UX Design and Testing.
• Social Interactions and Collaboration in AI-enhanced XR.

Mondellini Marta graduated in psychology at the University of Milan Bicocca in 2014. She then attended a course in human-machine interaction with a focus on the human factor. She is currently a researcher at the Institute of Intelligent Industrial Systems and Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing and PhD student in psychology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan. She works mainly on the validation of Virtual Environments, with a particular interest in the interaction between human factors and new technologies, focusing on the acceptability of the devices, the sense of presence, and the side effects that immersion in VEs can produce. She works on several regional/interregional/Erasmus+ projects using VR/AV technologies to promote well-being, rehabilitation, and health.

Nicola Capece is an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) at the University of Basilicata, Italy. His research focuses on Real-Time/Offline Rendering, Deep Learning, Computer Graphics, eXtended Reality (XR), and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). He has authored 42 publications, including international journal papers and conference proceedings. He co-organized notable events such as the Workshop on Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineers' Education (2023), Eurographics Italian Chapter (2023), and a Special Session for IEEE MetroXRAINE 2024. Additionally, he has contributed to three editions of the XR&AI Summer School (2022–2024). He is an associate editor for a Virtual Reality journal and a guest editor for several special issues, he also actively participates in organizing and program committees for international conferences. His projects focus on XR and HCI applications, including cultural heritage storytelling, virtual dressing rooms, 3D modeling in VR, and gesture recognition systems.

Mario Covarrubias is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano and serves as the Head of the Virtual Prototyping and Augmented Reality Research Laboratory at the Lecco Campus. He conducts research activities in the field of Virtual, Mixed, and Augmented Reality and has authored over a hundred articles published in international journals and conferences. His work spans various application areas, including industrial, design, medical, rehabilitation, and special education. Furthermore, he is a member of the scientific committee for leading international conferences on Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies and Special Education.

Giuseppe Caggianese is a Research Scientist at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for High-Performance Computing and Networking (ICAR). He is a Faculty Board Member of the PhD course on “TEchnology applied to Cultural Heritage” of the University of Calabria, and, between 2014 and 2019, he was an Adjunct Professor of Informatics at the University of Basilicata. He received the Laurea degree in computer science magna cum laude in 2010 and the PhD degree in Methods and Technologies for Environmental Monitoring in 2013 from the University of Basilicata, Italy.
His research interests include Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), eXtended Reality (XR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). He primarily focuses on designing and testing advanced interfaces that adapt to specific use cases and user needs in augmented and virtual reality, particularly in the medical and cultural domains.
He takes on leadership roles in funded research projects, including Horizon Europe and Italian initiatives, focusing on conversational AI, ICT for health, cultural heritage, and intelligent factories.
He authored over 45 scientific papers published in international journals, conference proceedings, and books. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the computer science section of Heliyon Journal (Elsevier) and participates in program committees for several international conferences and workshops.