Research

Interaction Paradigms between Humans and Intelligent, Digital Entities

This topic addresses desiderata about the analyses, design, and evaluation of artificial, intelligent, and interactive counterparts and their impact on human cognition, emotion, behavior, and social life. Our research explores explainable and virtual paradigms by investigating the following research questions

1. Which gestalt and explain principles of digital entities meet and arouse human needs and competencies?
2. How can and should digital entities and humans encounter on an equal foot?
3. How do mental models from each other shape digital interactions?

Special Themes: eXtended AI; extended user experience

Projects: MOTIV; AIL AT WORK; AI Psychology

Digital Change Experiences

This topic addresses desiderata about potencials and risks of digital interventions. Our research explores the value of mixed realities on human behavior and change processes by investigating the following research questions

1. What are the specific impact paths between digital potentials and human behavior (change)?
2. What are ethical, legal, and social aspects of digital interventions?
3. Which risks might limit the application of digital interventions?

Special Themes: BehaveFIT; AppRaiseVR

Projects: ViTraS; CoTeach 

AI Literacy

This topic addresses desiderata about the analyses and training of digital competencies. Users have abstract ideas of what AI is and skewed images of AI's principles, potentials, and risks. Our research explores measurements and approaches framing a holistic AI literacy by investigating the following research questions

1. Which dimensions define AI Literacy?
2. How can we measure AI Literacy?
3. How can we develop and train AI Literacy?

Projects: MOTIV; AIL AT WORK; AI Psychology

eXtended Artificial Intelligence: New Prospects of Human-AI Interaction Research  (Wienrich and Latoschik, 2021)

The article provides a theoretical treatment and model of human-AI interaction based on an XR-AI continuum as a framework for and a  perspective of different approaches of XR-AI combinations. It motivates XR-AI combinations as a method to learn about the effects of prospective human-AI interfaces and shows why the combination of XR and AI fruitfully contributes to a valid and systematic investigation of human-AI interactions and interfaces. Further, our approach introduces two paradigmatic implementations of the proposed XR testbed for human-AI interactions and interfaces and shows how a valid and systematic investigation can be conducted. In sum, the article opens new perspectives on how XR benefits human-centered AI design and development.

AI Literacy – Mindless Interaction and Innovative Trainings (Project MOTIV)

Many users or future users do have abstract ideas of what AI is. AI dystopias or utopias often sketch at least a skewed image of the principles and the potentials and risks of AI. In the worst case, they even lead up to mindless interactions. The MOTIV team, as part of the AI Psychology research group, develops new approaches to assess the potential misperceptions and mindless interaction. Based on those analyses, we design innovative AI literacy training programs.

BehaveFIT and AppRaiseVR (Wienrich, Hein, Döllinger, 2020; Wienrich and Gramlich, 2020)

The BehaveFIT framework shows that immersive interventions support behavior change processes and explain and predict 'why' and 'how' immersive interventions can bridge the intention-behavior gap. The AppRaiseVR framework contributes to guidance for valid evaluations of immersive experiences.

Multimodal XR-Interaction Suitcase (Project CoTeach)

In the project CoTeach, we develop and evaluate a multimodal XR-Interaction Suitcase to support intercultural and transcultural learning processes in foreign language education. Virtual objects are explored to initiate communication and reflection processes between learners with different cultural backgrounds. The objects were systematically and interdisciplinary collected and implemented. Further, the team explores innovative didactic concepts to implement the suitcase in the university's teacher education program.