Events Calendar

CS Colloquium: Ning Wang (ICT) - Modeling Socially Intelligent Behavior for Virtual Humans and Robots

Speaker: Ning Wang, ICT

Talk Title: Modeling Socially Intelligent Behavior for Virtual Humans and Robots

Series: CS Colloquium

Abstract: Reeves and Nass' Media Equation states that people tend to treat computers and other media as if they are real humans. When a computer asks a user about itself, the user will give a more positive response than when a different computer asks the same question. The Media Equation has had profound implications on the design of human-computer interactions, particularly on embodied virtual agents, who in most cases are created to fulfill functions that human social actors try to fulfill, e.g. tutor, therapist, soldier, etc. My research explores how the Media Equation applies to the design of virtual humans and human-robot interactions. In my talk, I will discuss how to model conversational tactics and nonverbal behaviors for virtual agents and robots who fulfill the role of tutors, conversational partners and teammates, and how these socially intelligent behaviors facilitate learning, develop rapport and build trust in human-agent and human-robot interactions.

Host: CS Department

Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Assistant to CS chair