The integration of neurotechnology with Extended Reality (XR) represents not merely an engineering challenge but a fundamental reimagining of human-machine symbiosis. This workshop, entitled "NeuroXR," aims to investigate the critical intersections of these fields, motivated by the increasing recognition of the human element as central to the design and application of immersive experiences. This workshop seeks to comprehend and effectively address users' cognitive and emotional states within XR environments, which promises to unlock unprecedented levels of personalization, engagement, and effectiveness.
The workshop believes that it is imperative to explore this rapidly evolving and interdisciplinary field due to the steadily increasing volume and quality of research in various disciplines. For example, studies have shown the significant impact of XR on cognitive functions like memory and spatial navigation. At the same time, affective computing has demonstrated the ability to deduce emotional states from physiological signals. Merging these insights within XR is crucial for developing truly adaptive and emotionally intelligent systems. Additionally, the emerging field of neurofeedback in VR environments has shown potential in therapeutic applications, from reducing anxiety to managing pain. As XR technologies advance and become more widespread, the ethical and practical considerations of capturing and responding to users' neurophysiological and affective data become critical, requiring thorough investigation and thoughtful design principles.
The workshop intends to address the following themes:
Neurophysiological Sensing in XR: Exploring novel and non-invasive methods for capturing brain activity (e.g., EEG, fNIRS) and other physiological signals (e.g., GSR, heart rate, facial EMG) within immersive XR environments.
Affective Computing for XR: Investigating techniques for real-time recognition, interpretation, and modeling of users' emotional and cognitive states from multimodal data streams within XR.
Adaptive and Personalized XR Experiences: Designing intelligent XR systems that dynamically adapt content, interactions, and feedback based on the user's inferred neurophysiological and affective states.
Neurofeedback and Biofeedback in XR: Examining the use of XR as a platform for delivering engaging and effective neurofeedback and biofeedback training protocols for various applications, including mental health and cognitive enhancement.
Ethical and Societal Implications of NeuroXR: Addressing the privacy, security, and ethical considerations surrounding the collection, processing, and use of neurophysiological and affective data in XR environments.
Applications of NeuroXR: Showcasing the potential of integrated neuro-affective XR across diverse fields such as education, training, healthcare, entertainment, and human-computer interaction.
Adaptive XR: Using Machine Learning/Deep Learning/data-driven algorithms for designing adaptive and personalized XR experiences.Â