AHCI RESEARCH GROUP
Publications
Papers published in international journals,
proceedings of conferences, workshops and books.
OUR RESEARCH
Scientific Publications
How to
Here you can find the complete list of our publications.
You can use the tag cloud to select only the papers dealing with specific research topics.
You can expand the Abstract, Links and BibTex record for each paper.
You can use the tag cloud to select only the papers dealing with specific research topics.
You can expand the Abstract, Links and BibTex record for each paper.
2025
Koizumi, M.; Ohsuga, M.; Corchado, J. M.
Development and Assessment of a System to Help Students Improve Self-compassion Proceedings Article
In: R., Chinthaginjala; P., Sitek; N., Min-Allah; K., Matsui; S., Ossowski; S., Rodríguez (Ed.): Lect. Notes Networks Syst., pp. 43–52, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025, ISBN: 23673370 (ISSN); 978-303182072-4 (ISBN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Avatar, Generative adversarial networks, Generative AI, Health issues, Mental health, Self-compassion, Students, Training program, University students, Virtual avatar, Virtual environments, Virtual Reality, Virtual Space, Virtual spaces, Visual imagery
@inproceedings{koizumi_development_2025,
title = {Development and Assessment of a System to Help Students Improve Self-compassion},
author = {M. Koizumi and M. Ohsuga and J. M. Corchado},
editor = {Chinthaginjala R. and Sitek P. and Min-Allah N. and Matsui K. and Ossowski S. and Rodríguez S.},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85218979175&doi=10.1007%2f978-3-031-82073-1_5&partnerID=40&md5=b136d4a114ce5acfa89f907ccecc145f},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-82073-1_5},
isbn = {23673370 (ISSN); 978-303182072-4 (ISBN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
booktitle = {Lect. Notes Networks Syst.},
volume = {1259},
pages = {43–52},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH},
abstract = {Mental health issues are becoming more prevalent among university students. The mindful self-compassion (MSC) training program, which was introduced to address this issue, has shown some efficacy. However, many people, particularly Japanese people, have difficulty recalling visual imagery or feel uncomfortable or resistant to treating themselves with compassion. This study proposes and develops a system that uses virtual space and avatars to help individuals improve their self-compassion. In the proposed system, the user first selects an avatar of a person with whom to talk (hereafter referred to as “partner”), and then talks about the problem to the avatar of his/her choice. Next, the user changes viewpoints and listens to the problem as the partner’s avatar and responds with compassion. Finally, the user returns to his/her own avatar and listens to the compassionate response spoken as the partner avatar. We first conducted surveys to understand the important system components, and then developed prototypes. In light of the results of the experiments, we improved the prototype by introducing a generative AI. The first prototype used the user’s spoken voice as it was, but the improved system uses the generative AI to organize and convert the voice and present it. In addition, we added a function to generate and add advice with compression. The proposed system is expected to contribute to the improvement of students’ self-compassion. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.},
keywords = {Avatar, Generative adversarial networks, Generative AI, Health issues, Mental health, Self-compassion, Students, Training program, University students, Virtual avatar, Virtual environments, Virtual Reality, Virtual Space, Virtual spaces, Visual imagery},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Mental health issues are becoming more prevalent among university students. The mindful self-compassion (MSC) training program, which was introduced to address this issue, has shown some efficacy. However, many people, particularly Japanese people, have difficulty recalling visual imagery or feel uncomfortable or resistant to treating themselves with compassion. This study proposes and develops a system that uses virtual space and avatars to help individuals improve their self-compassion. In the proposed system, the user first selects an avatar of a person with whom to talk (hereafter referred to as “partner”), and then talks about the problem to the avatar of his/her choice. Next, the user changes viewpoints and listens to the problem as the partner’s avatar and responds with compassion. Finally, the user returns to his/her own avatar and listens to the compassionate response spoken as the partner avatar. We first conducted surveys to understand the important system components, and then developed prototypes. In light of the results of the experiments, we improved the prototype by introducing a generative AI. The first prototype used the user’s spoken voice as it was, but the improved system uses the generative AI to organize and convert the voice and present it. In addition, we added a function to generate and add advice with compression. The proposed system is expected to contribute to the improvement of students’ self-compassion. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
Nasser, M.; Gaglio, G. F.; Seidita, V.; Chella, A.
The Art of Replication: Lifelike Avatars with Personalized Conversational Style Journal Article
In: Robotics, vol. 14, no. 3, 2025, ISSN: 22186581 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Avatar, large language models, Metaverse
@article{nasser_art_2025,
title = {The Art of Replication: Lifelike Avatars with Personalized Conversational Style},
author = {M. Nasser and G. F. Gaglio and V. Seidita and A. Chella},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105001408683&doi=10.3390%2frobotics14030033&partnerID=40&md5=126c37258886f5c7ac65dc828f41b747},
doi = {10.3390/robotics14030033},
issn = {22186581 (ISSN)},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Robotics},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
abstract = {This study presents an approach for developing digital avatars replicating individuals’ physical characteristics and communicative style, contributing to research on virtual interactions in the metaverse. The proposed method integrates large language models (LLMs) with 3D avatar creation techniques, using what we call the Tree of Style (ToS) methodology to generate stylistically consistent and contextually appropriate responses. Linguistic analysis and personalized voice synthesis enhance conversational and auditory realism. The results suggest that ToS offers a practical alternative to fine-tuning for creating stylistically accurate responses while maintaining efficiency. This study outlines potential applications and acknowledges the need for further work on adaptability and ethical considerations. © 2025 by the authors.},
keywords = {Avatar, large language models, Metaverse},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study presents an approach for developing digital avatars replicating individuals’ physical characteristics and communicative style, contributing to research on virtual interactions in the metaverse. The proposed method integrates large language models (LLMs) with 3D avatar creation techniques, using what we call the Tree of Style (ToS) methodology to generate stylistically consistent and contextually appropriate responses. Linguistic analysis and personalized voice synthesis enhance conversational and auditory realism. The results suggest that ToS offers a practical alternative to fine-tuning for creating stylistically accurate responses while maintaining efficiency. This study outlines potential applications and acknowledges the need for further work on adaptability and ethical considerations. © 2025 by the authors.
2024
Hellström, T.; Kaiser, N.; Bensch, S.
A Taxonomy of Embodiment in the AI Era Journal Article
In: Electronics (Switzerland), vol. 13, no. 22, 2024, ISSN: 20799292 (ISSN).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Avatar, Cognition, Digital Twins, Interaction, Robotics
@article{hellstrom_taxonomy_2024,
title = {A Taxonomy of Embodiment in the AI Era},
author = {T. Hellström and N. Kaiser and S. Bensch},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85210288412&doi=10.3390%2felectronics13224441&partnerID=40&md5=a0394b3323e9fe1a58021065aaee5569},
doi = {10.3390/electronics13224441},
issn = {20799292 (ISSN)},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Electronics (Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {22},
abstract = {This paper presents a taxonomy of agents’ embodiment in physical and virtual environments. It categorizes embodiment based on five entities: the agent being embodied, the possible mediator of the embodiment, the environment in which sensing and acting take place, the degree of body, and the intertwining of body, mind, and environment. The taxonomy is applied to a wide range of embodiment of humans, artifacts, and programs, including recent technological and scientific innovations related to virtual reality, augmented reality, telepresence, the metaverse, digital twins, and large language models. The presented taxonomy is a powerful tool to analyze, clarify, and compare complex cases of embodiment. For example, it makes the choice between a dualistic and non-dualistic perspective of an agent’s embodiment explicit and clear. The taxonomy also aided us to formulate the term “embodiment by proxy” to denote how seemingly non-embodied agents may affect the world by using humans as “extended arms”. We also introduce the concept “off-line embodiment” to describe large language models’ ability to create an illusion of human perception. © 2024 by the authors.},
keywords = {Avatar, Cognition, Digital Twins, Interaction, Robotics},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper presents a taxonomy of agents’ embodiment in physical and virtual environments. It categorizes embodiment based on five entities: the agent being embodied, the possible mediator of the embodiment, the environment in which sensing and acting take place, the degree of body, and the intertwining of body, mind, and environment. The taxonomy is applied to a wide range of embodiment of humans, artifacts, and programs, including recent technological and scientific innovations related to virtual reality, augmented reality, telepresence, the metaverse, digital twins, and large language models. The presented taxonomy is a powerful tool to analyze, clarify, and compare complex cases of embodiment. For example, it makes the choice between a dualistic and non-dualistic perspective of an agent’s embodiment explicit and clear. The taxonomy also aided us to formulate the term “embodiment by proxy” to denote how seemingly non-embodied agents may affect the world by using humans as “extended arms”. We also introduce the concept “off-line embodiment” to describe large language models’ ability to create an illusion of human perception. © 2024 by the authors.