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-three 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 Tellioglu -
Human Computer Interaction
E193-05 / Head: Geraldine Fitzpatrick -
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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Instant Visualization and Interaction for Large Point Clouds
2023 – 2026 / Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) -
Circular Twin - A Digital Ecosystem for the Generation and Evaluation of Circular Digital Twins
2022 – 2025 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) -
Event-based and frame-based binocular visual odometry system
2022 – 2023 / Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) -
ErdProfi Smart 360
2022 – 2023 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) -
ArtVis: Dynamic Network Perspectives on Digital Art History
2022 – 2025 / Austrian Science Fund (FWF) / Publications: 144487, 144491, 147724, 162023 -
Caring Robots // Robotic Care
2022 – 2027 / Austrian Science Fund (FWF) / Publication: 84752 -
Algorithmic governance of care
2021 – 2024 / Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) -
AI in prison schemas
2021 – 2023 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) -
MAXimizeMe - XXLMontage für alle
2021 – 2023 / Arbeiterkammer Vienna -
AI Facility Manager
2021 / Siemens AG Österreich -
Smart Mobility Hubs as Game Changers in Transport
2021 – 2024 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) -
Simulation of vehicle interiors for the efficient development of driver/occupant monitoring systems
2021 – 2024 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) -
Multimodal sensors and data sythesis
2021 – 2022 / Cogvis Software und Consulting GmbH -
Denoising for Real-Time Ray Tracing
2021 – 2022 / HUAWEI Technologies CO, Ltd. -
Green and Smart Buildings: Solar Irradiation Analysis for Early Design Phases
2021 / King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Visual Computing Center (VCC) Liliana Rivera Center Manager -
Domain-adaptive Remote sensing Image Analysis with Human-in-the-loop
2020 – 2023 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) / Publications: 141358, 144155, 144158, 82202 -
Photogrammetry made easy
2020 – 2022 / netidee Projektförderung -
Multimodal Sensor-Lighting System for the Protection of Vulnerable Traffic Participants
2020 – 2023 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) / Publications: 166342, 62318 -
Digital Urban Mining Platform: Assessing the material composition of building stocks through coupling of BIM to GIS
2020 – 2022 / Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) / Publication: 143303 -
Patter Recognition for Embroideries
2020 – 2022 / Wiehler Gobelin e.U.
Recent Publications
Note: Due to the rollout of TU Wien’s new publication database, the list below may be slightly outdated. Once the migration is complete, everything will be up to date again.
- 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
- 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., FIT´NG, Shultz, S., & Scheinost, D. (2022). Dear Reviewers: Responses to Common Reviewer Critiques about Infant Neuroimaging Studies. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 53(101055), 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
- 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, PT, EU. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12708/87321
- 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
- 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, Non-EU. https://doi.org/10.1145/3491102.3517435
- Camera Pose Estimation using Human Head Pose Estimation / 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, Online, International. SCITEPRESS. https://doi.org/10.5220/0010879400003124
- 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
- Automatic Interior Design in Augmented Reality Based on Hierarchical Tree of Procedural Rules / Kán, P., Kurtic, A., Radwan, M., & Rodríguez, J. M. L. (2021). Automatic Interior Design in Augmented Reality Based on Hierarchical Tree of Procedural Rules. Electronics, 10(3), 245. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10030245
- Building Information Monitoring via Gamification / Kán, P., Ferschin, P., Honic, M., & Kovacic, I. (2021). Building Information Monitoring via Gamification. In Proceedings of the 16th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications. SciTePress. https://doi.org/10.5220/0010288902610270
- Effects of Using Vibrotactile Feedback on Sound Localization by Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People in Virtual Environments / Mirzaei, M., Kán, P., & Kaufmann, H. (2021). Effects of Using Vibrotactile Feedback on Sound Localization by Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People in Virtual Environments. Electronics, 10(22), 2794. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10222794
- Multi-modal Spatial Object Localization in Virtual Reality for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People / Mirzaei, M., Kan, P., & Kaufmann, H. (2021). Multi-modal Spatial Object Localization in Virtual Reality for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People. In 2021 IEEE Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR). IEEE Computer Society. https://doi.org/10.1109/vr50410.2021.00084
- Head Up Visualization of Spatial Sound Sources in Virtual Reality for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People / Mirzaei, M., Kan, P., & Kaufmann, H. (2021). Head Up Visualization of Spatial Sound Sources in Virtual Reality for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People. In 2021 IEEE Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR). IEEE Computer Society. https://doi.org/10.1109/vr50410.2021.00083
- 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 14th Pacific Visualization Symposium (PacificVis). https://doi.org/10.1109/pacificvis52677.2021.00025
- Spatio Temporal Risk Prediction of Focal Bone Lesion Evolution in Multiple Myeloma / Licandro, R., Perkonigg, M., Röhrich, S., Weber, M.-A., Wennmann, M., Kintzele, L., Piraud, M., Menze, B., & Langs, G. (2021). Spatio Temporal Risk Prediction of Focal Bone Lesion Evolution in Multiple Myeloma. European Congress of Radiology (ECR 2021), Wien, Austria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12708/87262
- Deep ancient Roman Republican coin classification via feature fusion and attention / Anwar, H., Anwar, S., Zambanini, S., & Porikli, F. (2021). Deep ancient Roman Republican coin classification via feature fusion and attention. Pattern Recognition, 114(107871), 107871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patcog.2021.107871
- A Theoretical Model for Pattern Discovery in Visual Analytics / Andrienko, N., Andrienko, G., Miksch, S., Schumann, H., & Wrobel, S. (2021). A Theoretical Model for Pattern Discovery in Visual Analytics. Visual Informatics, 5(1), 23–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visinf.2020.12.002
- Gone full circle: A radial approach to visualize event-based networks in digital humanities / Filipov, V., Schetinger, V., Raminger, K., Soursos, N., Zapke, S., & Miksch, S. (2021). Gone full circle: A radial approach to visualize event-based networks in digital humanities. Visual Informatics, 5(1), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visinf.2021.01.001 / Project: IMMV
- Toward Flexible Visual Analytics Augmented through Smooth Display Transitions / Tominski, C., Andrienko, G., Andrienko, N., Bleisch, S., Fabrikant, S. I., Mayr, E., Miksch, S., Pohl, M., & Skupin, A. (2021). Toward Flexible Visual Analytics Augmented through Smooth Display Transitions. Visual Informatics, 5(3), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visinf.2021.06.004
- Sichtbar ist, was gesehen werden soll: Versteckte technologische Arbeit im stationären Einzelhandel / Bergmann, N., Meissner, J. L., Haselsteiner, E., & Pretterhofer, N. (2021). Sichtbar ist, was gesehen werden soll: Versteckte technologische Arbeit im stationären Einzelhandel. SWS-Rundschau, 61(4), 391–411. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12708/138830 / Project: AK-DL4.0
Recent Theses
Note: Due to the rollout of TU Wien’s new publication database, the list below may be slightly outdated. Once the migration is complete, everything will be up to date again.
- From Circles to Generalized Conics: Enriching the Properties of 2D Shape Representation and Description / Gabdulkhakova, A. (2023). From Circles to Generalized Conics: Enriching the Properties of 2D Shape Representation and Description [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.108561
- Real-Time Distortion Correction Methods for Curved Monitors / Rumpler, W. (2023). Real-Time Distortion Correction Methods for Curved Monitors [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.107602
- Utilizing Visual Analytics for Network Exploration in the Domain of Art History Research / Nedas, A. (2023). Utilizing Visual Analytics for Network Exploration in the Domain of Art History Research [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.99642
- Learning Image Similarities from Forensic Evidence / Keglevic, M. (2023). Learning Image Similarities from Forensic Evidence [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.108383
- Promoting Uptake of Utilitarian Cycling Through Digital Technology / Wunsch, M. (2023). Promoting Uptake of Utilitarian Cycling Through Digital Technology [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.108384
- Visual Computing Methods for Radiotherapy Planning / Schlachter, M. W. (2023). Visual Computing Methods for Radiotherapy Planning [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.110705
- Evaluation of the Use of Virtual Reality Simulations in Vocational Training / Kinzer, K. (2023). Evaluation of the Use of Virtual Reality Simulations in Vocational Training [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.109622
- Reconstructing Production Data from Drawn Limited Animation / Kugler, F. (2023). Reconstructing Production Data from Drawn Limited Animation [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.82729
- On the design of explanatory videos / Pichler, R. (2023). On the design of explanatory videos [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.99140
- Investigating the Effect of Tumor Segmentations on Radiomics Analysis through Visual Analytics / Duong, M. (2023). Investigating the Effect of Tumor Segmentations on Radiomics Analysis through Visual Analytics [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.99620
- Exploring and understanding the impact of machine learning choices on radiotherapy decision making / Böröndy, A. (2023). Exploring and understanding the impact of machine learning choices on radiotherapy decision making [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.91282
- Algorithmic Accountability - Transparency, Agency and Literacy in the Age of the Algorithm / Cech, F. (2023). Algorithmic Accountability - Transparency, Agency and Literacy in the Age of the Algorithm [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.108760
- When Participatory Design Projects End - Designing a Toolkit for Teachers / Scheepmaker, L. S. (2023). When Participatory Design Projects End - Designing a Toolkit for Teachers [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.108761
- The Trust-Vulnerability Relation - A Theory-driven and Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Interpersonal Trust in Human-Robot Interaction / Hannibal, G. (2023). The Trust-Vulnerability Relation - A Theory-driven and Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Interpersonal Trust in Human-Robot Interaction [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2023.108560
- Prediction of Accelerated Knee Osteoarthritis Using a Convolutional Neural Network / Vogel, M. (2022). Prediction of Accelerated Knee Osteoarthritis Using a Convolutional Neural Network [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12708/158486
- Driver pose estimation using synthetic car interiors / Sagmeister, D. (2022). Driver pose estimation using synthetic car interiors [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2022.88889
- Design considerations for human-robot interaction in older Adults' living spaces / Schwaninger, I. (2022). Design considerations for human-robot interaction in older Adults’ living spaces [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2022.107686
- Promoting resilience in unaccompanied migrant youth : A social-ecological design framework for technology-enabled support / Tachtler, F. M. (2022). Promoting resilience in unaccompanied migrant youth : A social-ecological design framework for technology-enabled support [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2022.103921
- A walk inside slope region hierarchy / Batavia, D. (2022). A walk inside slope region hierarchy [Dissertation, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2022.104840
- Multi-faceted Visual Analysis of Inter-Observer Variability / Bayat, H. C. (2022). Multi-faceted Visual Analysis of Inter-Observer Variability [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2022.105180
Recent Awards
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Margrit Gelautz:
Best Poster Nominee at HAI 2022 - "The effect of non-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 -
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 -
Renata Georgia Raidou:
EuroVis Young Researcher Award
2022 / EuroGraphics European Association for Computer Graphics / Italy -
Geraldine Fitzpatrick:
SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award
2022 / ACM / USA / Website -
Margrit Gelautz:
Shortlisted for VISAPP 2022 Best Student Paper Award (4 shortlisted papers out of 154 registered student papers) - "Camera pose estimation using human head pose estimation", R. Fischer, M. Hödlmoser, and M. Gelautz
2022 / International Conference on Computer Vision Theory and Applications (VISAPP) 2022 / Portugal / Project -
Peter Purgathofer:
Anerkennungspreis beim »Ars Docendi«, Staatspreis für gute Lehre
2021 / Austria / Website -
Katta Spiel:
Best Paper 2020
2021 / International Journal of Human-Computer Studies / USA -
Katta Spiel:
Best Paper Award & Diversity and Inclusion Award
2021 / SIGCHI Designing Interactive Systems / USA -
Katta Spiel:
Best Pictorial Award
2021 / SIGCHI Creativity & Cognition / USA -
Katta Spiel:
Diversity and Inclusion Award
2021 / SIGCHI Conference on Tangible Embodied and Embedded Interaction / USA -
Geraldine Fitzpatrick:
IFIP Fellow Award
2020 / IFIP Fellow / Austria / Website -
Katta Spiel:
Best Paper Honorable Mention Award
2020 / Mensch und Computer / Germany -
Katta Spiel:
Exceptional Norms
2020 / Firnberg-Programm / Austria -
Katta Spiel:
Evaluating the Experiences of Autistic Children with Technologies in Co-Design
2020 / SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award / USA -
Katta Spiel:
Best Paper Honorable Mention Award
2019 / SIGCHI CHIPLAY / USA -
Eduard Gröller:
IEEE VGTC Visualization Technical Achievement Award
2019 / IEEE VGTC / USA / Website -
Silvia Miksch:
Bridging the Gap between Visual Analytics and Digital Humanities: Beyond the Data-Users-Tasks Design Triangle
2019 / Best Paper Award at VIS workshop vis4dh (IEEE VIS Conference) / USA / Website