Extended Reality for Challenging Environments Lab

Our Vision - Make the Impossible Possible in the Virtual Worlds

The central vision of our XCE-Lab is to research XR technologies for simulation of challenging environments, situations and contexts. We focus on contexts and situations that are difficult to realize in the real world and therefore have an urgent need for simulation. For example, realistic training for first responders in the area of (CBRNe) hazards, high-risk situations (e.g. rampage) or natural disasters and dangerous situations in industry and mobility.

The XCE-Lab focusses on the following design-driven subtopics:

Next Human Centered Methods: What possibilities can XR technologies offer in the area of user research? What innovative methods on topics, such as co-creation methods for and with XR approaches (e.g. co-designing together in virtual worlds) can be developed?
Multi-level Experience Measurement: How can we integrate Multi-level Experience Measurements approaches in XR (e.g. combination of XR technologies and physiological measurements, such as cognitive work load, biological signals)?
AI driven XR technologies: How can we design and create responsive and intelligence AI-driven (virtual) environments that react and adapt to user behavior or physiology data?
Experience Prototyping: How can we use XR technologies for rapid experience prototyping of future interfaces (e.g. tangible interfaces in virtual environments, implicit interaction, speech-based interfaces, brain computer interfaces, etc.)?

Team

The greatest strength of our team is the multidisciplinary background of the more than 10 Lab members.

In our team we combine classical HCI research background with specialists from the fields of visualization, simulation, neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science and business administration. These different research backgrounds enable out of the box thinking and the creation of unique interaction paradigms and a positive user experience.

The team is leaded by Markus Murtinger, who is working for more than 15 years in the field of HCI research and Technology Experience and was involved in more than 150 research and business projects.

Case Studies

Our research team is currently working on more than 12 national and international projects in the field of XR.

We would like to introduce a selection of the following past and ongoing projects by the lab team:

VERTIGO: VERTIgO conceptualizes and designs a European Exercises Simulation Platform (EESN) for enhanced CBRN training of military and civilian emergency-response bodies through 3D virtual reality simulations to increase the efficiency of training procedures in the CBRN sector.
SHOTPROS: The H2020 project SHOTPROS (No 833672) aims for improving the performance of European police officers by developing a virtual reality enhanced training – with a strong focus on decision making and acting skills.
Med1stMR: The H2020 project Med1stMR (No 101021775) focuses on medical first responder training using a mixed reality approach featuring haptic feedback for enhanced realism.
TangibleVRpresence: In this FFG funded dissertation project a novel, multilevel measurement framework for presence in VR will be developed, that will be applied to tangible devices in VR, which increase presence by allowing for more intuitive and haptic interaction. The resulting multilevel model of presence will be validated with user studies in VR contexts including tangible devices.
Virtual Skills Lab: The FFG Idea-Lab funded project Virtual Skills Lab investigates how virtual reality scenarios can be used to train social skills such as empathy and teamwork through interaction with avatars.
VR Planning: The FFG "Mobilität der Zukunft" project “VR-Planning [we’re planning]” enhances participative planning processes by including Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR) technologies.
FX Future eXperience: The FFG "Mobilität der Zukunft" funded project "FX-Future eXperience" addresses trends in the digitalization and automation of vehicles by researching and developing information and interaction designs for a digital assistant with Augmented Reality (AR) technologies will be developed.

Our Vision - Make the Impossible Possible in the Virtual Worlds

Team

Case Studies

Affiliation

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