DC Virtual Reality in VA – VR & AI

Let AI do the job, from designing everyday things to extending reality. A presentation on AI for VR from Prof. Craig Yu of GMU’s DCXR Group,

Join us at the latest DCVR NoVA chapter meeting on Tuesday, Feb 18th, 2020 at 7:00 at Nova Labs in Reston, VA.

Artificial intelligence techniques such as optimization and machine learning techniques have revolutionized the way we design and experience VR/AR/MR. In this talk, Prof Craig Yu will talk about his recent AI-driven inventions for creating novel computational designs and virtual experiences, from interior design, architectural design, toy design, sound design, to game design and VR-based training experiences. For example, using optimization techniques, we can automatically generate different personalized VR-based training scenarios for training people to protect themselves during an earthquake. Using machine learning techniques, we can teach a computer to automatically synthesize realistic sounds to make a 360 Panorama image "audible", so that you feel "you are really there" when viewing the 360 panorama image in virtual reality.

Lap-Fai (Craig) Yu is an assistant professor at the Computer Science Department at George Mason University, where he leads the Design Computing and Extended Reality (DCXR) group. He works on computer graphics, vision, human-computer interaction, and virtual reality, particularly in AI and data-driven techniques for computational design. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from UCLA in 2013 with an Outstanding Recognition in Research Award. His research has been featured by New Scientist, the UCLA Headlines, and the IEEE Xplore Innovation Spotlight; and has won Best Paper Honorable Mention Awards at 3DV and CHI conferences. His lab is supported by the NSF, Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, and Oracle.

Craig’s talk will be followed by a discussion. No matter which domain you are interested in, he should have insights about how AI and VR/AR/MR could do the trick to make your work more effective and fun!

Remember, there is plenty of free parking! Everyone is welcome to come early and have a tour of the facility. Tours of Nova Labs will also be available newcomers!

AGENDA:

6:30 pm - Informal gathering/tours of Nova Labs

7:15 - 7:15 pm - Intro with Steve Sheets

7:15 pm - 8:45 pm - Presentation by Prof. Craig Yu of GMU’s DCXR Group

8:45 pm - 9:30 pm - Q&A/Wrap Up

Before and after the meeting, there will be an Open Discussion. Please feel encouraged to bring any of your own devices that would help the topics.

Join us at DCVR in VA. We will meet once a month in a variety of rotating locations. Contact Steve Sheets (magesteve@mac.com) or Joseph Cathey (jcathey@capitol-interactive.com) if you have suggestions for topics, or are interested in presenting.