Publications

@inproceedings{ly_evaluation_2025,

title = {Evaluation of AI-Based Assistant Representations on User Interaction in Virtual Explorations},

author = {D. -N. Ly and H. -N. Do and M. -T. Tran and K. -D. Le},

editor = {Buntine W. and Fjeld M. and Tran T. and Tran M.-T. and Huynh Thi Thanh B. and Miyoshi T.},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105004253350&doi=10.1007%2f978-981-96-4288-5_26&partnerID=40&md5=5f0a8c1e356cd3bdd4dda7f96f272154},

doi = {10.1007/978-981-96-4288-5_26},

isbn = {18650929 (ISSN); 978-981964287-8 (ISBN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

booktitle = {Commun. Comput. Info. Sci.},

volume = {2352 CCIS},

pages = {323–337},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH},

abstract = {Exploration activities, such as tourism, cultural heritage, and science, enhance knowledge and understanding. The rise of 360-degree videos allows users to explore cultural landmarks and destinations remotely. While multi-user VR environments encourage collaboration, single-user experiences often lack social interaction. Generative AI, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), offer a way to improve single-user VR exploration through AI-driven virtual assistants, acting as tour guides or storytellers. However, it’s uncertain whether these assistants require a visual presence, and if so, what form it should take. To investigate this, we developed an AI-based assistant in three different forms: a voice-only avatar, a 3D human-sized avatar, and a mini-hologram avatar, and conducted a user study to evaluate their impact on user experience. The study, which involved 12 participants, found that the visual embodiments significantly reduce feelings of being alone, with distinct user preferences between the Human-sized avatar and the Mini hologram. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.},

keywords = {360-degree Video, AI-Based Assistant, Cultural heritages, Cultural science, Multiusers, Single users, Social interactions, Three dimensional computer graphics, User interaction, Users' experiences, Virtual environments, Virtual Exploration, Virtual Reality, Virtualization},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{chan_board_2024,

title = {Board 24: Development of Multi-User-enabled, Interactive, and Responsive Virtual/Augmented Reality-based Laboratory Training System},

author = {A. Chan and J. A. Liu},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85202042560&partnerID=40&md5=9b1565ea2dd4336b4cc45594fe4f7900},

isbn = {21535965 (ISSN)},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

booktitle = {ASEE Annu. Conf. Expos. Conf. Proc.},

publisher = {American Society for Engineering Education},

abstract = {The Unit Operations Laboratory (UOL) is a place where third-year chemical engineering students can apply their engineering and science concepts on pilot-scale equipment. However, the physical lab is resource-intensive, requiring protective equipment and constant supervision. In addition, due to limited units for large groups of students, students perform experiments according to the rolling program schedule, making alignment with lecture teaching and hands-on learning challenges. The research team focuses on increasing the accessibility of the UOL by using simulation gaming in standard, virtual reality and augmented reality modalities as an educational tool. The "Virtual Unit Ops Lab" application places students in an immersive simulated environment of the physical lab, where they can get practical experiences without the difficulties of an in-person lab by using specialized headsets and controllers, which allows the student to move and interact with various parts of the machine physically. Developed with Unity software, the application serves as a digital twin to an existing lab, which allows for an immersive simulation of the full-scale lab equipment, in addition to enhanced learning features such as the ability to display the current action performed by the user and to provide visual/audio feedback for correct and incorrect actions. The application also supports the use by multiple "players" (i.e., it has the "multiplayer" option), where multiple students can communicate and discuss their current step. As a work in progress, a non-player-character chatbot (generative AI responses) is being developed for existing applications using OpenAI's GPT-3.5, which provides designated information to a student in a conversational manner. Additionally, a supplemental "Augmented Unit Ops Lab" application uses Augmented Reality, which superimposes three-dimensional flow diagrams onto the Heat Exchanger through the view of a phone camera during the in-person labs. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2024.},

keywords = {'current, Augmented Reality, Chemical engineering students, Concentration (process), Cooling towers, Degassing, Hands-on learning, Hydrodesulfurization, Immersive, Large groups, Liquid crystal displays, Multiusers, Nanoreactors, Personnel training, Pilot-scale equipment, Protective equipment, Students, Training Systems, Unit Operations Laboratory},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}