Figure 1: Cross reality interaction - Transitioning on the reality-virtuality continuum or collaborating over various realityvirtuality systems. Courtesy of Pexels from Pixabay.
We have organised the first international workshop on CrossReality (XR) Interaction. XR describes the transition between or concurrent usage of multiple systems on the realityvirtuality continuum. While some expect the distinctions between Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to fade away in time, it is still helpful to see them positioned in a Milgram’s Reality-Virtuality continuum of ’realities’ with various degrees of virtual content. Being a continuum, it is possible to envision (i) a smooth transition between systems using diferent degrees of virtuality or (ii) collaboration between users using diferent systems with diferent degrees of virtuality. This workshop brought together over 30 researchers and practitioners that are interested in XR to identify current issues and future directions of research. The long-term goal is to create a strong interdisciplinary research community and foster future development of the discipline and collaborations.
EDITORS • Jan Gugenheimer
• Kathrin Gerling (KU Leuven) • Wolfgang Hürst (Utrecht University) • Daniel Lopes (INESC-ID, University of Lisbon) • Kenny Mitchell (Edinburgh Napier University, Disney
Research) • Joan Mora (Inflight VR) • Tanja Nijboer (Utrecht University) • Francisco Nunes (Fraunhofer Portugal) • Anasol Peña Rios (BT Research Labs) • Marko Tkalčič (University of Primorska)
Anasol Peña-Rios is a Senior Researcher at BT Research Labs in Adastral Park, Ipswich, where she specialises on AI and Immersive Technologies (VR/AR/MR). In addition, she is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Essex (UK), from where she holds a PhD in Computer Science and an MSc in Advanced Web Engineering. Previously, she completed a BEng in Information Technology at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Mexico).
Anasol has been personally driving the agenda on exploring the use of AI, digital twins and immersive technologies in the context of BT’s field force operations. Her work contributed to BT’s portfolio who was presented with a Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award (2017), and an IEEE Outstanding Organisation Award (2017). In addition, her project was highly commended at the IET Innovation Awards 2018. She was awarded Best KTP Associate 2016 by the University of Essex Research and Enterprise ofice and was shortlisted for the Computing Women in IT Excellence Awards 2018.
Anasol is an IEEE Senior Member, Board Member and co-founder of the Immersive Learning Research Network, and Board Member of the Creative Science Foundation. She serves as Associate Editor of EAI Endorsed Transactions on eLearning and as a Review Editor of Frontiers’ Human-Media Interaction theme. Her other professional contributions include numerous peer-reviewed publications and editorial work, in addition, to serve as chair and co-organiser of numerous academic conferences. She has more than 15 years’ professional experience in industry, working in close collaboration with international multidisciplinary teams.
Additional information with video presentations and conversations around each individual paper can be found on the workshop’s website https://xr.famnit.upr.si/.