Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology
Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology investigates the design and development of key technologies in the areas of computer vision, computer graphics, visualization, augmented/mixed/virtual reality, and human-computer interaction.
Contact
- Silvia Miksch, Coordinator
Research Topics
- Computer Graphics
- Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
- Visualization and Visual Analytics
- Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality
- Media Analysis and Retrieval
- Human-computer Interaction, Design and Socially Embedded Computing
- Assistive Technologies and Ubiquitous Computing
About
Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology investigates the design and development of key technologies in the areas of computer vision, computer graphics, visualization, augmented/mixed/virtual reality, and human-computer interaction.
Topics include visual methods in the computational sciences (computer graphics and computer vision) including modeling, image analysis and synthesis, photorealistic rendering, real-time rendering, visualization of large data sets, processing of sensor data as well as the recognition of contained patterns and structures.
Further topics are socio-technical systems, mobile and ubiquitous technologies, people-centered design and evaluation, as well as ethics and responsible research and innovation. Application examples include: biological image analysis, visual surveillance, 3D reconstruction, bioinformatics, content-based multimodal retrieval, smart cities/IoT, assistive technologies, ambient-assisted living, games, healthcare, health and wellbeing, and collaboration. Furthermore, the research focus deals with interaction in these environments, where the emphasis is on designing “technologies for people” and using innovative, multimodal interfaces, which combine computer-based intelligence with cyber-physical settings.
Research topics in this respect include the development of interaction designs (especially for collaborative applications) together with the corresponding evaluation techniques. Central to VC+HCT’s innovative approach to digital technology is the multi-disciplinary combination of technical expertise with creative design and a people oriented perspective.
Research Units
Six of the faculty’s twenty-five research units are primarily focused on topics related to Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology. Visit their pages to learn about current projects, publications, courses, and the people involved.
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Computer Vision
E193-01 / Head: Robert Sablatnig -
Computer Graphics
E193-02 / Head: Eduard Gröller -
Virtual and Augmented Reality
E193-03 / Head: Hannes Kaufmann -
Artifact-based Computing and User Research
E193-04 / Head: Hilda Tellioğlu -
Human Computer Interaction
E193-05 / Head: Paweł W. Woźniak -
Visual Analytics
E193-07 / Head: Silvia Miksch
Below is a small selection of recent research activities related to Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology. To learn more, visit the pages of the research units listed above.
Recent Projects
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Can AI Build “Mental Immunity”? Inoculating Against Harmful Influence with AI Chatbots
2025 – 2027 / Austrian Science Fund (FWF) -
Konzipierung einer vollautomatisierten Ent- und Verladung mittels FTS für Außenbereich und
Kommissionierung2D-to-3D lifting of foundation models for few-shot 3D object detection
2025 – 2028 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) -
Mixed Reality Post-Disaster Tools to Plan Intervention
2025 – 2027 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) -
Visual Computing-Grundlagenforschung
2025 – 2028 / VRVis -
Visual Analytics und Visualisierung
2025 / VRVis -
2D-to-3D lifting of foundation models for few-shot 3D object detection
2024 – 2025 / cirqular pointcloud analytics GmbH -
RE:STOCK INDUSTRY - Digital framework for the circular economy orientated reuse of existing building structures for vertical production
2024 – 2027 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Publication: 205516 -
ERIKA - Die digitale Begleiterin für klimabewusstes Handeln im Alltag
2024 – 2026 / Arbeiterkammer Niederösterreich -
Welten bauen mit Mathematik - Onlinetool zur parametrischen Echtzeitmodellierung
2024 / netidee Projektförderung -
Health virtual twins for the personalised management of stroke related to atrial fibrillation
2024 – 2028 / European Commission
Publications: 210251 / 210250 / 210252 / 216532 / 219450 / 221540 -
Climate-sensitive Adaptive Planning for Shaping Resilient Cities
2024 – 2027 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Publication: 220017 -
Empathic Vehicle
2024 – 2026 / Vienna Business Agency (WAW)
Publication: 215606 -
Bringing Point Clouds to WebGPU
2024 – 2025 / netidee Projektförderung -
Massive geographische Datenvisualisierung mit WebGPU
2023 – 2024 / netidee Projektförderung
Publication: 221523 -
STEAM - STEM - stART 'em
2023 – 2026 / Austrian Exchange Service (OeAD) -
Visual Analytics and Computer Vision meet Cultural Heritage
2023 – 2027 / Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Publications: 192769 / 199007 / 199153 / 209327 / 212426 / 216729 / 221607 -
Instant Visualization and Interaction for Large Point Clouds
2023 – 2026 / Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF)
Publications: 189596 / 195927 / 198651 / 199275 / 208716 / 220026 / 215609 / 216694 / 216864 -
PropXX Innovationsscheck Conversational Agents
2023 – 2024 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) -
Transforming streets into accessible urban oases through consensus building with digital
and analogue tools
2023 – 2025 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Publication: 209334 -
Toward Optimal Path Guiding for Photorealistic Rendering
2023 – 2027 / Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF)
Publications: 190854 / 209940 / 216172
Recent Publications
- Multiscale Unfolding: Illustratively Visualizing the Whole Genome at a Glance / Halladjian, S., Kouril, D., Miao, H., Gröller, E., Viola, I., & Isenberg, T. (2022). Multiscale Unfolding: Illustratively Visualizing the Whole Genome at a Glance. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 28(10), 3456–3470. https://doi.org/10.1109/tvcg.2021.3065443
- Dear Reviewers: Responses to Common Reviewer Critiques about Infant Neuroimaging Studies / Korom, M., Camacho, M. C., Filippi, C. A., Licandro, R., Moore, L. A., Dufford, A., Zöllei, L., Graham, A. M., Spann, M., Howell, B., Shultz, S., Scheinost, D., & FIT´NG. (2022). Dear Reviewers: Responses to Common Reviewer Critiques about Infant Neuroimaging Studies. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 53, Article 101055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101055
- Perspectives of Visualization Onboarding and Guidance in VA / Stoiber, C., Ceneda, D., Wagner, M., Schetinger, V., Gschwandtner, T., Streit, M., Miksch, S., & Aigner, W. (2022). Perspectives of Visualization Onboarding and Guidance in VA. Visual Informatics, 6(1), 68–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visinf.2022.02.005
- Evaluating Active and Assisted Living technologies: Critical methodological reflections based on a longitudinal randomized controlled trial / Bieg, T., Gerdenitsch, C., Schwaninger, I., Kern, B. M. J., & Frauenberger, C. (2022). Evaluating Active and Assisted Living technologies: Critical methodological reflections based on a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Computers in Human Behavior, 133(107249), 107249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107249
- Financial and Work Process related Perspectives of Social Robots in Care Settings / Carros, F., Preussner, A., Manavi, M., & Schwaninger, I. (2022). Financial and Work Process related Perspectives of Social Robots in Care Settings. ECSCW 2022 Workshop: Robots In Heterogeneous Contexts. Negotiation Of Co-Creative Lifelong Learning Spaces Through Participatory Approaches, Coimbra, Portugal. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12708/87321
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Camera Pose Estimation using Human Head Pose Estimation
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Fischer, R., Hödlmoser, M., & Gelautz, M. (2022). Camera Pose Estimation using Human Head Pose Estimation. In Proceedings of the 17th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications. 17th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications, Unknown. SCITEPRESS. https://doi.org/10.5220/0010879400003124
Project: SyntheticCabin (2021–2025) - Care Workers Making Use of Robots: Results of a Three-Month Study on Human-Robot Interaction within a Care Home / Carros, F., Schwaninger, I., Preussner, A., Randall, D., Wieching, R., Fitzpatrick, G., & Wulf, V. (2022). Care Workers Making Use of Robots: Results of a Three-Month Study on Human-Robot Interaction within a Care Home. In CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. CHI ’22 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, New Orleans, LA, United States of America (the). https://doi.org/10.1145/3491102.3517435
- Design Considerations for Novel Self-Adapting Toilets for Semi-Public Spaces / Mayer, P., & Panek, P. (2022). Design Considerations for Novel Self-Adapting Toilets for Semi-Public Spaces. In G. Schreier (Ed.), Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics / IOS press. https://doi.org/10.3233/shti220357
- SHREC 2021: Retrieval of cultural heritage objects / Sipiran, I., Lazo, P., Lopez, C., Jimenez, M., Bagewadi, N., Bustos, B., Dao, H., Gangisetty, S., Hanik, M., Ho-Thi, N.-P., Holenderski, M., Jarnikov, D., Labrada, A., Lengauer, S., Licandro, R., Nguyen, D.-H., Nguyen-Ho, T.-L., Perez Rey, L. A., Pham, B.-D., & Vu-Le, T.-A. (2021). SHREC 2021: Retrieval of cultural heritage objects. COMPUTERS & GRAPHICS-UK, 100, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cag.2021.07.010
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Immersive training of first responder squad leaders in untethered virtual reality
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Mossel, A., Schoenauer, C., Froeschl, M., Peer, A., Goellner, J., & Kaufmann, H. (2021). Immersive training of first responder squad leaders in untethered virtual reality. Virtual Reality, 25(3), 745–759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-020-00487-x
Download: PDF (2.4 MB)
Project: VR on-site (2015–2017) - Understanding Optical Music Recognition / Calvo-Zaragoza, J., Hajič, J. jr., & Pacha, A. (2021). Understanding Optical Music Recognition. ACM Computing Surveys, 53(4), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.1145/3397499
- Hornero: Thunderstorms Characterization using Visual Analytics / Diehl, A., Pelorosso, R., Ruiz, J., Pajarola, R., Gröller, M. E., & Bruckner, S. (2021). Hornero: Thunderstorms Characterization using Visual Analytics. Computer Graphics Forum, 40(3), 299–310. https://doi.org/10.1111/cgf.14308
- Acute response on general and sport specific hip joint flexibility to training with novel sport device / Hoelbling, D., Grafinger, M., Smiech, M. M., Cizmic, D., Dabnichki, P., & Baca, A. (2021). Acute response on general and sport specific hip joint flexibility to training with novel sport device. Sports Biomechanics. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2021.1922742
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Gestalt descriptions for deep image understanding
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Hörhan, M., & Eidenberger, H. (2021). Gestalt descriptions for deep image understanding. Pattern Analysis and Applications, 24(1), 89–107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10044-020-00904-6
Download: PDF (3.52 MB) - Exploratory User Study on Graph Temporal Encodings / Filipov, V., Arleo, A., & Miksch, S. (2021). Exploratory User Study on Graph Temporal Encodings. In 2021 IEEE 14th Pacific Visualization Symposium (PacificVis). 14th Pacific Visualization Symposium (PacificVis 2021), Tianjin, China. IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/pacificvis52677.2021.00025
- Egocentric Network Exploration for Immersive Analytics / Sorger, J., Arleo, A., Kan, P., Knecht, W., & Waldner, M. (2021). Egocentric Network Exploration for Immersive Analytics. In Computer Graphics Forum (pp. 241–252). John Wiley and Sons. https://doi.org/10.1111/cgf.14417
- Mixed Metro Maps with User-Specied Motifs / Batik, T., Terziadis, S., Nöllenburg, M., Wang, Y.-S., & Wu, H.-Y. (2021). Mixed Metro Maps with User-Specied Motifs. In 29th International Symposium on Graph Drawing and Network Visualization (GD 2021) (pp. 1–4). http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12708/55642
- Uncertainty for Safe Utilization of Machine Learning in Medical Imaging, and Perinatal Imaging, Placental and Preterm Image Analysis : 3rd International Workshop, UNSURE 2021, and 6th International Workshop, PIPPI 2021, Held in Conjunction with MICCAI 2021, Strasbourg, France, October 1, 2021, Proceedings / Sudre, C. H., Licandro, R., Baumgartner, C., Melbourne, A., Dalca, A., Hutter, J., Tanno, R., Turk, E. A., Van Leemput, K., Torrents-Barrena, J., Wells, W. M., & Macgowan, C. (Eds.). (2021). Uncertainty for Safe Utilization of Machine Learning in Medical Imaging, and Perinatal Imaging, Placental and Preterm Image Analysis : 3rd International Workshop, UNSURE 2021, and 6th International Workshop, PIPPI 2021, Held in Conjunction with MICCAI 2021, Strasbourg, France, October 1, 2021, Proceedings. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Vol. 12959). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87735-4
- The Ninth Visual Object Tracking VOT2021 Challenge Results / Kristan, M., Matas, J., Leonardis, A., Felsberg, M., Pflugfelder, R., Kämäräinen, J.-K., Chang, H. J., Danelljan, M., Zajc, L. C., Lukezic, A., Ondrej, D., & Käpylä, J. (2021). The Ninth Visual Object Tracking VOT2021 Challenge Results. In 2021 IEEE/CVF International Conference on Computer Vision Workshops (ICCVW). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/iccvw54120.2021.00305
- Designing to support People Working, Connecting and Living Well in Mobile Work Environments / Fitzpatrick, G. (2021). Designing to support People Working, Connecting and Living Well in Mobile Work Environments. In S. Brewster, A. Kun, A. Riener, & O. Shaer (Eds.), Human-Computer Interaction to Support Work and Wellbeing in Mobile Environments (pp. 35–36). Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Center for Informatics. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12708/24936
Recent Theses
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Human Scene Reconstruction for Urban Search and Rescue Missions
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Purgat, M. (2025). Human Scene Reconstruction for Urban Search and Rescue Missions [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.131000
Download: PDF (2.71 MB) -
Enhancing Depth-Based Human Action Recognition through Zero-Shot Depth Estimation
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Angyal, R. (2025). Enhancing Depth-Based Human Action Recognition through Zero-Shot Depth Estimation [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.131662
Download: PDF (1.79 MB) -
Empowering interactions : integrating self-determination theory into companion technology design
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Shahu, A. (2025). Empowering interactions : integrating self-determination theory into companion technology design [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.135226
Download: PDF (4.81 MB) -
Fast rendering of ultra-detailed geometry in real time on modern GPUs
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Unterguggenberger, J. (2025). Fast rendering of ultra-detailed geometry in real time on modern GPUs [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.132181
Download: PDF (2.89 MB) -
Proximity-based point cloud reconstruction
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Marin, D. (2025). Proximity-based point cloud reconstruction [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.128668
Download: PDF (37.4 MB) -
Writer retrieval for historical documents
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Peer, M. (2025). Writer retrieval for historical documents [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.131340
Download: PDF (3.44 MB) -
Innovation and ethics in software engineering and internet computing
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Nigsch, K. (2025). Innovation and ethics in software engineering and internet computing [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.77500
Download: PDF (1.38 MB) -
Advancing User Experience Design through Generative AI: A Healthy Habits App Case Study
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Noltenius, L. N. (2025). Advancing User Experience Design through Generative AI: A Healthy Habits App Case Study [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.131606
Download: PDF (4.8 MB) -
Analysis of the GPU Acceleration Potential of the FFT-Based Pressure Solver in the PALM-4U Model System
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North, S. (2025). Analysis of the GPU Acceleration Potential of the FFT-Based Pressure Solver in the PALM-4U Model System [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.133062
Download: PDF (2.03 MB) -
Data collection in AR : exploring thermal perception in public spaces using augmented reality
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Huber, M. (2025). Data collection in AR : exploring thermal perception in public spaces using augmented reality [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.134360
Download: PDF (3.31 MB) -
In-cabin driver monitoring using video- and pose-based action recognition
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Brunner, L. (2025). In-cabin driver monitoring using video- and pose-based action recognition [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.117545
Download: PDF (2.85 MB) -
Pole-arina : deep learning–based coaching system for pole dancing technique
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Scheucher, K. (2025). Pole-arina : deep learning–based coaching system for pole dancing technique [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.132462
Download: PDF (4.08 MB) -
Reminiscence with robots : establishing a basis for personalized dementia care using an Off-The-Shelf companion robot
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Haider, C. (2025). Reminiscence with robots : establishing a basis for personalized dementia care using an Off-The-Shelf companion robot [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.112728
Download: PDF (1.46 MB) -
Towards large scale smell display for enhancing immersion during walking in virtual environments
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Götz, C. (2025). Towards large scale smell display for enhancing immersion during walking in virtual environments [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.123065
Download: PDF (4.97 MB) -
Optimization of production layouts in multi-floor Industrial buildings
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Suppan, D. (2025). Optimization of production layouts in multi-floor Industrial buildings [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.124567
Download: PDF (2.15 MB) -
Designing a visual analysis pipeline for exploring TMS effects on heart rate
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Grexova, R. (2025). Designing a visual analysis pipeline for exploring TMS effects on heart rate [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.126782
Download: PDF (4.28 MB) -
Unraveling uncertainty propagation in the medical visualization pipeline
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Häusle, G. (2025). Unraveling uncertainty propagation in the medical visualization pipeline [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.129144
Download: PDF (10.2 MB) -
Design and evaluation of “Eureka” — a digital 6-3-5 brainwriting tool : impacts on creativity, participant engagement, and usability
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Kemmer, M. (2025). Design and evaluation of “Eureka” — a digital 6-3-5 brainwriting tool : impacts on creativity, participant engagement, and usability [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.132586
Download: PDF (1.65 MB) - Radar-based remote respiratory rate measurement in presence of periodic distortion / El-Zoueiry, M. (2025). Radar-based remote respiratory rate measurement in presence of periodic distortion [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.119323
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Guidance and visualization recommendation in visual analysis of sports event sequence
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Borde, T. (2025). Guidance and visualization recommendation in visual analysis of sports event sequence [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2025.131404
Download: PDF (1.71 MB)
Recent Awards
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Velitchko Filipov:
Best Full Paper
2025 / Eurographics Conference on Visualization (EuroVis 2025) / Luxembourg / Website -
Robin Angelini:
Best Paper Award
2025 / Paper: Speculating Deaf Tech: Reimagining Technologies Centering Deaf People / Japan -
Katta Spiel:
Best Paper Award
2025 / Paper: Speculating Deaf Tech: Reimagining Technologies Centering Deaf People / Japan -
Velitchko Filipov:
Top Cited Article
2025 / Computer Graphics Forum / USA / Website -
Velitchko Filipov:
Best Dissertation
2024 / Austria / Website -
Florian Michahelles:
Honorable Mention Short Paper
2024 / MUC2024 / Germany / Website -
Amelie Beatrice Schäfer:
Communicator-Preis – Wissenschaftspreis des Stifterverbandes
2024 / Stifterverband und Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) / Germany -
Florian Michahelles:
IoT2023 best paper award
2023 / International Conference of the Internet of Things, co-sponsored by ACM / Japan / Website -
Katta Spiel:
Best Poster Award
2023 / CSCW 2023 / USA -
Florian Michahelles:
Reviewer's Choice Award of Interact 2023 Conference
2023 / IFIP Technical Committee 13 on Human–Computer Interaction. / Austria / Website -
Geraldine Fitzpatrick:
Best Teacher Award
2023 / Austria -
Michael Wimmer:
Outstanding Technical Contributions Award
2023 / Eurographics Awards / Germany / Website -
Margrit Gelautz:
Best Poster Nominee at HAI 2022 - "The effect of exaggerated nonverbal cues on the perception of the robot Pepper", S. Fischer, D. Stoeva, and M. Gelautz
2022 / International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction (HAI) 2022 / New Zealand / Project -
Florian Michahelles:
Ten Year Impact Award
2022 / 21st International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Multimedia (MUM 2022) / Portugal / Website -
Katta Spiel:
Pride Biz Award 2022
2022 / Pride Biz / Austria -
Peter Purgathofer:
Best Lecture Award, Sonderpreis Digitale Lehre
2022 -
Katta Spiel:
Förderungspreis der Stadt Wien in der Sparte Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaft, Technik
2022 / Stadt Wien / Austria -
Katta Spiel:
Best Paper Award
2022 / Mensch und Computer 2022 / Germany -
Katta Spiel:
Best Paper Honourable Mention Award
2022 / Mensch und Computer 2022 / Germany -
Michael Wimmer:
Wolfgang Straßer Award (Best Paper)
2022 / ACM/Eurographics / USA / Website