Computational Creativity Support for Animated Virtual Reality Stories

Speaker:            Linping Yuan

Time:                 10:00 am, Jul. 14th.

Location:            SIST 1A-200

Host:                 Prof. Quan Li

Abstract:

Animated virtual reality (VR) stories, combining the presence of VR and the artistry of computer animation, offer a compelling way to deliver messages and evoke emotions. This talk explores how computational creativity support can reduce the high barriers to creating VR stories. I will discuss where, whether, and how computational approaches originally developed for desktop content can be adapted to address the unique challenges of VR story creation, given the scarcity of VR-specific knowledge and data. Specifically, I will first share our empirical insights into the current practices and challenges faced by VR story creators, identifying areas where creativity support is most needed. Then, through two projects, I will reflect on strategies to leverage the commonalities and differences between desktop and VR environments for adaptation. By bridging desktop and VR, these efforts aim to enrich the VR ecosystem with diverse and compelling content, ultimately accelerating the adoption of VR technology.

Bio:

Linping YUAN is a research assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Her research interests lie in the intersection of virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR), human-computer interaction (HCI), and data visualization (VIS). She designs and develops algorithms, interactive tools, and visual analytic systems to facilitate the creation of various artifacts, including 2D visualizations and infographics, AR data videos, and VR animated stories. She also develops human-centered applications for various domains, such as education, healthcare, and tourism. Her work has been published at top-tier HCI and computer graphics venues, including IEEE TVCG, IEEE VR, ACM CHI, ACM UIST, IJHCS, etc. Her research has also made real-world impacts, such as becoming a part of a public exhibition at HKUST Library, empowering a mobile application of a global public speaking training company, and improving the public service delivery of a local government.