Institute for Creative Technologies

William Swartout

ICT

Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Gerding Theater at the Armory, Portland, OR
Host: Inverge 2008

Using the Holodeck from Star Trek: Next Generation as our inspiration, researchers at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies have been pushing back the boundaries of the possible with the goal of creating immersive experiences so compelling that people will react to them as if they were real. In this talk I will describe our research in photo-real computer graphics, interactive virtual humans and immersive virtual reality that moves us closer to realizing the vision of the Holodeck. I will also discuss how entertainment content in the form of engaging stories and characters can heighten these experiences, and how such experiences can be used for learning.