Author: ITI Webmaster

The Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI) and LARSYS (Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems) are making a remarkable impact at CHI 2025, one of the most prestigious conferences in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Their outstanding contributions include six full papers, two of which received the prestigious Honorable Mention award (top 5%), two Late-Breaking Results (LBRs), one entry in the Student Design Competition, one Special Interest Group (SIG) session, and one workshop.

The strong presence of ITI and LARSYS at CHI 2025 highlights their commitment to advancing HCI research through innovative and socially impactful contributions. Their participation reflects a dedication to shaping the future of technology in ways that are ethical, inclusive, and transformative.

Honorable Mention Papers

• “A Feminist Care Ethics Toolkit for Community-Based Design: Bridging Theory and Practice” – Ana O. Henriques, Anna R. L. Carter, Beatriz Severes, Reem Talhouk, Angelika Strohmayer, Ana Cristina Pires, Colin M. Gray, Kyle Montague, Hugo Nicolau.
  • This paper introduces a toolkit grounded in feminist care ethics to enhance ethical engagement in community-based projects, fostering ethical reflection and meaningful participation.
• “Towards Neuroqueer Spatial Justice: A Critical Literature Review of Public Space Technologies for Neurodivergent Populations” – Patricia Piedade, Anna R. L. Carter, Rui Prada, Hugo Nicolau.
  • A critical review exploring the accessibility of public spaces for neurodivergent individuals and proposing a theoretical framework informed by Spatial Justice and Neuroqueer Technoscience to shape inclusive urban environments.

Full Papers

• “Awareness in Collaborative Mixed-Visual Ability Tangible Programming Activities” – Filipa Rocha, Hugo Simão, João Nogueira, Isabel Neto, Tiago Guerreiro, Hugo Nicolau.
  • Investigates the role of workspace awareness in fostering inclusive collaboration in tangible programming tasks for mixed-visual ability groups.
• “Digital Technologies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: A Systematic Review, Critical Reflections, and Future Research Directions” – Jing Zhao, Isabel Neto, Ana Cristina Pires, Catarina Tomé-Pires, Hugo Nicolau.
  • A systematic review identifying gaps in digital technology research for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, highlighting the need for deeper integration of Deaf culture and child development in HCI.
• “Diving into the Abyss: Exploring Deep Sea Connection and Curiosity through Virtual Reality” – Beatrice Maggipinto, Nuno Jardim Nunes, Jessica Hammer, Yanick Trindade, Valentina Nisi.
  • Examines the potential of VR to foster environmental awareness and curiosity about marine ecosystems through immersive experiences.
• “Speculative Job Design: Probing Alternative Opportunities for Gig Workers in an Automated Future” – Shuhao Ma, Zhiming Liu, Valentina Nisi, Sarah E. Fox, Nuno Jardim Nunes.
  • Explores speculative job design as a method to address labor challenges in the gig economy, leveraging Feminist HCI principles.

Late-Breaking Results

• “Exploring the Impact of Transmedia Storytelling on Financial Literacy: A Pilot Evaluation with Young Adults” – Constança Freitas, Ana Santos, Pedro F. Campos, Paulo Bala, Mara Dionisio.
  • Investigates the effectiveness of transmedia storytelling in improving financial literacy through a web-based and board game approach.
• “Meta-evaluating the Effects of Social Preferences on NPC-evaluators in an Energy Community Game” – Andrés Isaza-Giraldo, Paulo Bala, Anna Jiskrová, Luiz Sachser, Pedro Campos, Lucas Pereira.
  • Studies the influence of social preferences on NPC evaluators in serious games designed for energy communities.

Student Design Competition

• “Eidolon: Exploring the Complexities of Prolonged Grief Disorder Through a Digital Game” – Filipe Pinheiro Tomé, Ana Cristina Pires, Francisco Vasconcelos, Pedro F. Campos.
  • A thought-provoking thriller game integrating escape room mechanics to address Prolonged Grief Disorder through immersive storytelling.

Workshops

• “Access InContext: Futuring Accessible Prototyping Tools and Methods” – Patricia Piedade, Peter A. Hayton, Cynthia L. Bennett, Anna R. L. Carter, Clara Crivellaro, Alan Dix, Jess McGowan, Katta Spiel, Miriam Sturdee, Garreth W. Tigwell, Hugo Nicolau.
  • A workshop addressing the accessibility barriers in prototyping tools and methods for people with disabilities, fostering discussions and hands-on ideation.

Special Interest Groups (SIG)

• “Conducting Ethical Research on Emerging Technologies for Children” – Juan Pablo Hourcade, Ewelina Bakala, Elizabeth Bonsignore, Flannery Hope Currin, Jerry Alan Fails, Amy Gilhoi, Nuria Medina Medina, Delaney Norris, Meredith Onions, Ana Cristina Pires, Greg Walsh, Svetlana Yarosh, Jason Yip.
  • A discussion platform for ethical research on emerging technologies affecting children, exploring best practices beyond legal requirements.

Researchers from the Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI), Nuno Jardim Nunes and Valentina Nisi, were recently invited to speak at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where they presented insights on digital storytelling, cultural heritage, and sustainability through technology. Their talks, deeply connected to ongoing European projects, highlighted the intersection of interactive technologies, design, and participatory culture.

Nuno Jardim Nunes, President and Founder of ITI, presented “Bauhaus of the Seas – a Vision for the New European Bauhaus”, a talk centered on the Bauhaus of the Seas (BoS), one of the flagship initiatives of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). BoS is the only NEB lighthouse project led by a Southern European country, rolling out in seven cities across Europe. In his presentation, Nunes emphasized the project’s interdisciplinary framework, which integrates interspecies, intergenerational, and intercultural design approaches. He also discussed how digital technologies, including AI, distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and interactive storytelling, are used to foster new urban interventions. His talk also provided key insights into the BIG ERA Chair, exploring how blockchain can be leveraged for social good, particularly in supporting participatory processes and interspecies assemblies.

Valentina Nisi, Full Professor of Design Thinking at Técnico – University of Lisbon, delivered a talk titled “Storytelling as a Bridge to Heritage and Cultural Identity”. She presented case studies from several EU-funded projects, including the MEMEX and LoGaCulture initiatives, demonstrating how interactive digital storytelling can address societal challenges. MEMEX, for instance, aims to enhance social cohesion through heritage-related tools, offering inclusive access to cultural heritage and fostering interactions among marginalized communities in Lisbon, Paris, and Barcelona. LoGaCulture takes this concept further by integrating locative games into cultural heritage experiences, blending nature and culture through VR, AR, and mixed reality. Nisi also explored the role of DLTs and NFTs in preserving and enhancing natural heritage, reinforcing the importance of digital technologies in cultural sustainability.

Both talks underscored ITI’s ongoing contributions to European research and innovation, particularly within the frameworks of Bauhaus of the Seas Sails, the BIG ERA Chair, and LoGaCulture. The engagement at NUS further strengthens international collaborations and paves the way for future interdisciplinary research at the crossroads of design, technology, and societal impact.

The ITI CHI Talks are back. The first session of 2025 will take place on March 14, from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM, and will be available both in person—on Funchal Island and in Lisbon—and remotely.

This edition brings together three ITI researchers presenting their latest work, alongside a special guest speaker who will provide valuable insights into Pre-Award Guidance for research funding.

Meet the Speakers

🔹 Luísa Seixas – Navigating Research Funding: ITI’s Pre-Award Guidance & Resources
A researcher, curator, and transdisciplinary project author, Luísa is a senior manager at ITI, specifically at Bauhaus das Velas do Mar and LoGaCulture. She will share strategies on identifying funding opportunities, crafting competitive proposals, and navigating institutional requirements.

🔹 Filipe Tomé – Eidolon: Exploring the Complexities of Prolonged Grief Disorder Through a Digital Game
A researcher at ITI/LARSyS as part of the eGameslab project, Filipe holds a PhD in Media Arts and specializes in game design. His presentation will explore how emotionally challenging video games can raise awareness of Prolonged Grief Disorder and create meaningful experiences for players.

🔹 Patrícia Piedade – Towards Neuroqueer Spatial Justice: A Critical Literature Review of Public Space Technologies for Neurodivergent Populations
With a background in HCI and neurodiversity research, Patrícia will discuss how technology can support neurodivergent needs in public spaces. She will advocate for participatory co-creation to promote neurodivergent joy and enhance accessibility in urban environments.

🔹 Ana Henriques – A Feminist Care Ethics Toolkit for Community-Based Design
A PhD student at ITI/LARSyS, Ana’s research examines the intersections of ethics, feminist HCI, and community-based work. She will introduce a practical toolkit designed to embed feminist ethics into participatory design, helping researchers and communities navigate ethical challenges collaboratively.

Why Attend?

This session is a unique opportunity to gain fresh perspectives on human-computer interaction, ethics, and innovative research methodologies. Engage with leading researchers, explore thought-provoking discussions, and join a dynamic intellectual community.

The International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (TEI) is a globally recognized event at the intersection of design, technology, and human-computer interaction. Now in its 19th edition, TEI’25 will take place from March 4-7, 2025, in Bordeaux, France, bringing together researchers, designers, artists, and industry professionals to explore the latest advancements in tangible and embodied computing.

This year, researchers from the Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI), a research unit of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), will play a significant role at TEI’25, contributing groundbreaking work that merges sustainability and tangible interaction. Their research addresses a range of topics, including immersive virtual reality experiences for exploring marine ecosystems, speculative methodologies for rethinking the human-nature relationship, and novel pedagogical approaches for the future of digital interaction.

ITI Contributions to TEI’25:

• Artefacts as Pedagogy for Futuring (Doctoral Consortium) – Anna My BertmarkEcho of the Abyss: Understanding More-than-Human Interconnectedness in the Deep Sea Through Virtual Reality Experiences – Beatrice Maggipinto (Carnegie Mellon University, University of Lisbon); Yanick Trindade (Tecnico, U. Lisboa); Jessica Hammer (Carnegie Mellon University); Nuno Jardim Nunes (Instituto Superior Técnico – U. Lisbon); Valentina Nisi (IST University of Lisbon).

• From Visual Sketching to Knotted Figurations: Fabulating in the Contact Zone – Valentina Nisi (IST University of Lisbon); Mathilde Gouin (IST University of Lisbon); Marta Galvão Ferreira (IST U. Lisbon); Nuno Jardim Nunes (Instituto Superior Técnico – U. Lisbon).

• Natureculture Probes: Opening Up Dialogues in Natural Heritage Landscapes – Anna My Bertmark (IST University of Lisbon); Mathilde Gouin (IST University of Lisbon); Nuno Jardim Nunes (Instituto Superior Técnico – U. Lisbon); David E. Millard (University of Southampton); Pedro Ferreira (Instituto Superior Técnico); Vera Karina Gebhardt Fearns (Instituto Superior Técnico); Marta Galvão Ferreira (IST U. Lisbon); Valentina Nisi (IST University of Lisbon).

• Still Life Ecologies: Co-creating the Representation of Plants – Catarina Reis (Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon, LARSYS – University of Lisbon); Mónica Mendes (Faculdade de Belas-Artes, Universidade de Lisboa).

• The Entangled Tales That Landscapes Tell: An Embodied HCI Pedagogy for Re-enchanted Nature Walks – Pedro Ferreira (Instituto Superior Técnico); Marta Galvão Ferreira (IST U. Lisbon); Teresa Maritza Gouveia da Silva (Instituto Superior Técnico – U. Lisbon); Nuno Jardim Nunes (IST University of Lisbon); Valentina Nisi (IST University of Lisbon).

TEI’25 fosters in-depth discussions while promoting sustainable practices. This year’s program will highlight key themes such as sustainability in interaction design, research reproducibility, and the impact of tangible technologies on the future. The contributions from ITI researchers align with this vision, reinforcing their role at the forefront of innovation in tangible interaction.

Our most recent workshop took place at CNDB in Bucharest, Romania, from January 29th to 31st. Our researchers, Diogo Cabral and David dos Santos from the Institute of Interactive Technologies, are mentoring the artistic project “This is Unreal,” led by Liz Santoro and Pierre Godard.

“This Is Unreal” explores the intersection of dance, theater, and contemporary technologies like artificial intelligence, clones, and deepfakes. Through text and movement,the performance creates a world where the lines between human and machine, real and virtual, blur. The performance delves into the unsettling implications of AI on truth, creativity, and freedom, using both human-generated and AI-generated materials to create an emotional experience that questions our current relationship with reality. The project also introduces a novel “fourth wall”, creating a hybrid space that integrates audience interaction through real-time feedback and digital extensions, offering a glimpse into the evolving future of human and machine collaboration in artistic creation.

Hosted at CNDB, this artistic residence provided a dynamic platform for exploring these transformative ideas and furthering MODINA’s mission to pioneer contemporary performance through digital innovation and collaborative creativity.

Supported by the Creative Europe programme, MODINA unites academic institutions, dance centres, and creative professionals across Europe, driving innovation in the performing arts and interactive technologies.

#MODINA #ThisIsUnreal #DigitalArt #ContemporaryPerformance #ArtificialIntelligence #CreativeEurope #CNDB #Bucharest

One of our recent workshops was held at Kino Siska in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from January 25th to 27th. Our researchers, Diogo Cabral and David dos Santos from the Institute of Interactive Technologies, are mentoring the artistic project “Baby,” led by Viktor Szeri and Tamás Páll.

“Baby” is a research-based multimedia performance project that integrates choreography with multi-modal AI technologies. It explores how art collectives can serve as a form of care-work and offer an alternative to the traditional nuclear family model. Building on the foundation of Hollow—a multidisciplinary group founded in 2018—the project reimagines art-making. By drawing parallels between nurturing a child and fostering a creative collective, “Baby” examines how a group is birthed, nurtured, and loved within its cultural context. The project asks how do we relate the functions of collective parenting to participatory performance, how we can queer care work, and what role could technology play in this within a theatrical setting? For the artists, amid the current political atmosphere in Hungary, this act of creation becomes a form of resistance and the ultimate means of survival for the community.

Hosted at Kino Siska, this artistic residence provides a dynamic platform for exploring the intersections of technology, dance, and audience interaction. It is yet another milestone in MODINA’s project to foster contemporary performance through digital innovation and collaborative creativity.

Supported by the Creative Europe programme, MODINA unites academic institutions, dance centres, and creative professionals across Europe, driving forward innovation in the performing arts and interactive technologies.

#MODINA #ProjectBaby #DigitalArt #ContemporaryDance #ArtificialIntelligence #CreativeEurope #KinoSiska #Ljubljana

The URBAN Workshop Series is back, bringing together researchers to explore innovative approaches to urban challenges. The next session, titled “Community-Based Approaches for Technology Design and Development,” will take place on February 21, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at the ITI facilities in the Hub Criativo do Beato.

Led by Paulo Bala, a Postdoctoral Researcher at ITI, this workshop will highlight human-centered methods in technology development, particularly in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), games, and eXtended Reality. Bala, who holds a Ph.D. in Digital Media and has contributed to several EU and FCT-funded projects, will share insights on engaging communities in research and design processes.

As public engagement becomes increasingly crucial for securing research funding, this session will provide participants with key methodologies and best practices for involving stakeholders in their projects. The workshop will feature two main components: a presentation on fundamental concepts and methods for community engagement in research, followed by a hands-on exercise where attendees will ideate ways to integrate stakeholder involvement into future LARSyS projects, fostering collaboration across research units.

The Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI) is excited to announce the next ITI Talks, a monthly event dedicated to the exchange of cutting-edge research and innovative ideas. This dynamic initiative brings together  the community of researchers at ITI and renowned invited speakers, to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across disciplines.

The upcoming session will take place on February 14 at 12:30 PM in a hybrid format, with in-person gatherings at Hub Criativo do Beato in Lisbon and ITI in Funchal, as well as remote participation via Zoom.

This edition will feature three distinguished speakers:

• Mathilde Gouin and Anna Bertmark (ITI, Lisbon)
• Eva Freitas (ITI, Funchal)

Mathilde Gouin and Anna Bertmark will present “Nature: Culture Probes: Opening up Dialogues in Natural Heritage(s) Landscapes”. Their research introduces participatory methodologies designed to enhance engagement with natural and cultural heritage. Drawing insights from the Loga Culture project, they will share findings from field studies at two UNESCO World Heritage sites, demonstrating how interactive tools can transform the way communities connect with and preserve heritage landscapes.

At 1:00 PM, Eva Freitas will take the stage to introduce “Fit Fest Exergame: Designing a Narrative-driven Exergame to Engage Active Seniors in Physical Activity.” A researcher at eGamesLab in Funchal, Freitas has developed an interactive digital game aimed at promoting physical activity and cognitive stimulation among older adults. Through extensive collaboration with fitness professionals and senior focus groups, she has crafted an immersive exergame that blends engaging narratives with sociocultural elements, transforming traditional exercise into an interactive and enjoyable experience.

Each presentation will be followed by an interactive Q&A session, offering attendees the chance to engage with the speakers and explore new ideas. The event will conclude with a networking lunch, generously provided by the laboratory, fostering further discussions and collaborations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in pioneering research, connect with experts, and be part of a vibrant intellectual community.

Speaker

Alex is a sociologist by training, with longstanding commitments to critically investigating and intervening in the proliferation of technology and machine intelligence. His work has been shaped most heavily by a critical yet hopeful scholarship in feminist technoscience, including works from Ruha Benjamin, Simone Browne, Vinciane Despret, Donna Haraway, and Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing. He’s currently a Reader in Design Informatics at the University of Edinburgh and an AHRC BRAID Fellow, and co-runs the Critical Data Studies Cluster at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. He is also a Fellow of the RSA and holds visiting roles at the University of Sweden and City, University of London.

Abstract

This spring, I’ll be embarking on fieldwork investigating the outsourced labours and operational logics associated with red teaming. Currently linked to responsible AI (RAI) programmes across the tech sector, red teaming is being touted as a way to identify weaknesses in language and multi-modal AI models through adversarial or provocative prompts. My fieldwork will take place across so-called ‘data enrichment’ centres in the Philippines and examine red teaming from two standpoints. First, it will interrogate the portrayal of red teaming as a sector-wide solution to the toxic tendencies of data-driven models, such as large language models (LLMs). Second, it will analyse red teaming as a case of what I term the operationalising of responsibility. Across both dimensions, my focus will be on the global flows of capital and the forms and concentrations of labour being mobilised to “responsiblise” AI. I see implications here not just for a more responsible AI but vital questions about notions of responsibility in late capitalism.

In preparation for this work, I’ll use this talk to think with an audience about some of the assumptions behind and controversies surrounding red teaming. I’ll begin by elaborating on ways red teaming is being approached and put into practice in R&D. I’ll then set this technical work in a wider context of RAI in the sector to raise and invite questions about the adequacy of a ‘solution’ that continues to valorise technological innovation whilst failing to reward or indeed recognise the extractive conditions necessary for AI’s proliferation. 

Event Details

Date: February 3rd, 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 (GMT)
Location: In Person and Online
Registration: https://forms.office.com/e/UHjXMkr6tY

Following a successful session in Madeira, we are excited to host a two-day workshop at the Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI) on January 30–31, 2025. The workshop, led by Professor Marty J. Wolf, Chair of the ACM Committee on Professional Ethics from the United States, will engage participants in critical discussions around ethics and responsibility in academic research, writing, and publication.

This exclusive workshop aims to foster thoughtful reflection and practical knowledge for members of the ITI community, including doctoral students, faculty, and postdoctoral researchers. The focus will be on ethical considerations related to research processes, academic collaboration, and the evolving landscape of scholarly publishing.

Workshop Goals and Overview

Professor Wolf’s workshop will address key ethical challenges that researchers face in their work, particularly as they navigate the complex academic publishing process. Participants will explore the PCARE tool, a framework that facilitates discussions about ethics and responsibility. This tool loosely aligns with the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and will be applied to various stages of research, from writing to publication.

Preparation for the Workshop

Participants are encouraged to review the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, specifically the Preamble and the 25 high-level principles, before the workshop. These principles will be referenced throughout the session to guide ethical decision-making and discussion.

This workshop promises to be an enriching experience for our community, providing both practical tools and a platform for deep ethical reflection. Due to the exclusive nature of the event, registrations for this session are now closed. However, we look forward to hosting a diverse and engaged group of participants for what promises to be a stimulating and insightful two days.

Stay tuned for more updates and future events hosted by the Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI).