Research interests

My research activities are in the field of the visual perception with the aim to design novel bio-inspired artificial vision systems and to develop natural human-computer interactions in virtual and augmented reality.

In particular, I'm interested in the following topics:

• Computational models of visual perception Neural architectures for motion and depth estimation: an architectural model for simple cell direction selectivity in the visual cortex [BiolCyb99]; motion-in-depth selectivity in the visual cortex [neucom04]; a distributed neural architecture for motion [imcomm15] and depth [neuralsys18] estimation; neural models for motion perception [JoV16, FrontNC19] and depth perception [PloSCB20] of behavioral data.

• Neural algorithms for visual processing  Bio-inspired computer vision algorithms based on spatio-temporal, multi-channel and multi-scale filtering [cviu10 and icvs09];  Context sensitive receptive fields: motion analysis and motion interpretation [cviu13]; Space-variant vision systems: log-polar mapping [iciap15, cviu14, patrec12].

• Software tools for artificial vision systems Real-time processing of complex visual descriptors: neural algorithms for graphics processing units, GPGPU [ncns12]; Depth and color camera calibration procedures  [jvcir13]; Virtual environments for the simulation of stereo active vision systems [visapp09]; vision systems for assisting impaired users [cviu16].

• Natural human-computer interaction Natural perception in dynamic stereoscopic augmented reality environments based on low-cost technologies [displays12]; analysis of depth perception in virtual setups  [JoV14]; grasping in VR [IEEEVR19]; interaction in AR [ISMAR18, ICCV19].

• Virtual and Augmented reality systems Perception of depth in naturalistic conditions [plosone15]; proprioception in head-mounted displays [visapp16];  a virtual holographic display case for museum installations [intetain15]; walking in AR scenarios [ismar17]; assessment of cognitive capabilities of elderly people [ECCV18]; visual working memory in VR [VR23]; addressing vergence accommodation conflict in immersive media [TVCG23].

Projects:

• European project Interreg Alcotra ``INTEVIDI'', using digital media for the assessment and rehabilitation of social interactions, 2023-2026.

• European project Interreg Alcotra ``E-Santé/Silver Economy'' of the Pitem CLIP “Cooperazione per l’innovazione applicata”, 2020-2022.

• European project Interreg Alcotra ``Jeune'' of the Pitem PROSOL “Prossimità Solidale: giovani, donne, anziani in salute e attivi nei territori alpini”, 2019-2022.

• European project Interreg Alcotra ``Senior'' of the Pitem PROSOL “Prossimità Solidale: giovani, donne, anziani in salute e attivi nei territori alpini”, 2019-2022.

• Technology transfer: Cetena SpA for the project "Aware", 2021-2022.

• Technology transfer: Cetena SpA for the project "Cymon", 2020-2021.

• Technology transfer: Cetena SpA for the project "Virtual Ship", 2017-2018.

• French project VRead: "A new augmented reading experience in virtual reality making reading enjoyable again for low vision people", University  of Côte d’Azur (UCA), 2017-2019.

• National PAR-FAS: Arianna, 2014-2016

• Technology transfer: ETT SpA on virtual and augmented reality systems, 2013-2016.

• UE FP7-ICT “EYESHOTS”, Heterogeneous 3-D Perception Across Visual Fragments, www.eyeshots.it, coordinator Dr. Silvio P. Sabatini, 2008-2011.

• UE FP7-ICT “SEARISE”, Attending and Recognizing Instances of Salient Events, www.searise.eu, coordinator Dr. Marina Kolesnik, 2008-2011.

• University of Genoa project: "Interactive 3D visualization systems for visuo-motor rehabilitation",  2010.

• PRIN 2008, Bioinspired models for the control of robot ocular movements during active vision and 3D exploration, coordinator Prof. G. Cannata.

• UE FP6-FET “DRIVSCO”, Learning to Emulate Perception-action Cycles in a Driving School Scenario, www.pspc.unige.it/drivsco, coordinator Prof. Florentin Woergoetter, 2006-2009.

• UE FP6-NEST-Adventure "MCCOOP", Multichannel Cooperativity in Visual Processing, www.mccoop.de,  coordinator Dr. Marina Kolesnik, 2005-2008.

• PRIN 2005 (national project), Computational and neural mechanisms of sensorimotor learning and control, coordinator Prof. P. Morasso.

• UE FP5-FET "ECOVISION", Artificial vision systems based on early-cognitive cortical processing, coordinator Prof. Florentin Woergoetter, 2002-2005.

• University of Genoa project: "Human-computer interaction based on visual information: immaterial joystick ",  2002.

• MIUR-Elsag PNmicroBio (national project), Neuronal Systems in Service and Implant Automation, Coordinator Elsag S.p.a.,  2000-2003.

• ASI national project: Optical Microsystems for Space Robotics, coordinator Prof. G. Bisio, 1998-1999.

• UE project "CorMORANt", Cortical Maps of Resistive Anisotropic Networks, coordinator Prof. G. Bisio, 1995-1997.