PROGRAM

Program Overview

MRSI Workshop 2025 Program

Keynote Speakers

Rachel Flynn

Dr. Rachel Flynn is transforming how we understand children's relationship with technology. As an Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Development at San Francisco State University, she bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world impact, drawing from her rich decade of hands-on experience working with children and families in youth development programs. Dr. Flynn's research explores two vital questions of our digital age: how children learn from media, and how interactive technology can enhance both physical health and cognitive development. Her innovative work with active video games has earned widespread recognition, including a prestigious fellowship from the American Educational Research Association and the Society for Research in Child Development.

Armed with a PhD in Developmental Psychology and advanced training through Postdoctoral Fellowships in Social Work and Education, Dr. Flynn brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her field. Her commitment to practical applications shines through in her current virtual reality research, conducted in summer camps and after-school programs—places where theory meets practice, and where digital innovation meets the joy of childhood discovery.

Jimmy Bagley

Dr. Jimmy Bagley is a Professor of Kinesiology and Director of the Muscle Physiology Lab at San Francisco State University. He earned his PhD in Human Bioenergetics and has authored over 150 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts in muscle biology, exercise performance, and health technology. His pioneering research on virtual reality (VR) exercise places him at the forefront of integrating human performance with advanced technology. He collaborates with NASA, industry leaders, and global researchers to shape the future of fitness.

One of the first scientists to study the metabolic effects of VR exercise, his work has been featured on the Discovery Channel, WebMD, CNN, and Wall Street Journal, making complex science accessible to diverse audiences. A passionate educator and scientist, Dr. Bagley strives to inspire innovation at the intersection of physiology and technology.

Accepted Manuscripts

Virtual Reality Training Prototype for Police-Bystander Conflict

Clara Maathuis (Open University, The Netherlands), Koen van Den Steen (Independent Research, Belgium), Remco van Dijke (Independent Research, The Netherlands)

Abstract: The increasing complexity and frequency of societal conflicts pose significant challenges to public safety and demand innovative human-centric policing strategies and solutions. This research presents the development and evaluation of a Virtual Reality (VR) prototype for training Police Officers (POs) to addressing police-offender-bystander conflicts by applying proper conflict de-escalation techniques. The prototype is successfully evaluated by POs considering three scenarios: regular arrest, pandemic rule enforcement, and protest intervention. The results demonstrate the potential of VR solutions to augment traditional training methods by equipping POs with realistic and adaptive strategies to tackle conflict and through this assuring public safety and trust.

Toward Safe and Comfortable VR-based Positive Psychotherapy

Marina H. Kunst (Universidade Federal de Pernambuco), Joao Marcelo X. N. Teixeira (Universidade Federal de Pernambuco), Fabiana F. F. Peres (Unioeste), Claudio R. M. Mauricio (Unioeste)

Abstract: Virtual reality has emerged as a promising tool in psychotherapy by creating immersive environments for emotional exploration. In this study, 30 participants across three sessions experienced a PositivePsychology-VR solution designed for well-being enhancement. Observations revealed minimal discomfort, with only occasional motion-related or scene-triggered anxiety that subsided over time. Participants reported increased tranquility, engagement, and emotional relief, supporting VR’s potential to deepen psychotherapeutic outcomes. Minor hardware issues and pre-screening measures highlight the need for robust safety and comfort protocols. Future work will expand the participant base, refine real-time monitoring, and explore adaptive VR features for tailored psychotherapy.

AR Monitoring System for User Safety in VR Encountered-Type Haptics

Soroosh Mortezapoor, Mohammad Ghazanfari, Emanuel Vonach, Jakob Paul Hoffmann, Hannes Kaufmann

(TU Wien, Vienna, Austria)

Abstract: This paper presents an Augmented Reality (AR) monitoring system for a human overseer of a mobile robotic Encountered-Type Haptic Device (ETHD) in walkable Virtual Reality (VR). By integrating Robot Operating System (ROS), Unity, and Microsoft HoloLens 2, the system combines critical data, navigation, and behavior plans of the robotic ETHD system into a unified AR interface. This approach reduces the overseer’s workload while enabling uninterrupted monitoring of the physical workspace to enhance safety. Preliminary results demonstrate its effectiveness and potential in improving focus and decision-making, leading to a safer workspace.

Visualising Collision Spot Uncertainty with Augmented Reality

Vinu Kamalasanan, Stefan Fuest, Olga Shkedova, Monika Sester

(Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany)

Abstract: When trying to avoid collision in a scene with other persons, one makes an initial guess of a location where the conflict might happen before choosing paths. Then the estimated conflict spot serves as a deciding factor in choosing a safe trajectory to avoid the intruder. However, the predicted collision point is subject to one’s estimate of the other person’s future movement. The prediction is linked to guess made with a degree of uncertainty. In this paper, we summarize on how we use AR visualizations to symbolize different levels of uncertainty of predicted collision spots to study path choice influences.

Towards Safer Mixed Reality with Auditory Warnings for Uncontrolled Indoor Settings

Nasim Ahmed, Taeyeong Choi, Xinyue Zhang, Sahidul Islam, Rifatul Islam

(Kennesaw State University, GA, USA)

Abstract: Mixed Reality (MR) applications are increasingly gaining popularity across various sectors, making user safety crucial, as distractions from augmented and virtual content can cause injuries. Native safety features such as user-defined Guardian boundaries offer limited protection in controlled indoor settings. While limited research has been done to address safety in dynamic uncontrolled environments, we propose a novel method providing verbal feedback to help users safely navigate uncontrolled indoor settings. Our proposed approach achieved a mean accuracy of 93.64% with an average latency of 380 ms; thus demonstrating promising results for ensuring safety in MR interactions.

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