TY - JOUR A1 - Lugrin, Jean-Luc A1 - Latoschik, Marc Erich A1 - Habel, Michael A1 - Roth, Daniel A1 - Seufert, Christian A1 - Grafe, Silke T1 - Breaking Bad Behaviors: A New Tool for Learning Classroom Management Using Virtual Reality JF - Frontiers in ICT N2 - This article presents an immersive virtual reality (VR) system for training classroom management skills, with a specific focus on learning to manage disruptive student behavior in face-to-face, one-to-many teaching scenarios. The core of the system is a real-time 3D virtual simulation of a classroom populated by twenty-four semi-autonomous virtual students. The system has been designed as a companion tool for classroom management seminars in a syllabus for primary and secondary school teachers. This will allow lecturers to link theory with practice using the medium of VR. The system is therefore designed for two users: a trainee teacher and an instructor supervising the training session. The teacher is immersed in a real-time 3D simulation of a classroom by means of a head-mounted display and headphone. The instructor operates a graphical desktop console, which renders a view of the class and the teacher whose avatar movements are captured by a marker less tracking system. This console includes a 2D graphics menu with convenient behavior and feedback control mechanisms to provide human-guided training sessions. The system is built using low-cost consumer hardware and software. Its architecture and technical design are described in detail. A first evaluation confirms its conformance to critical usability requirements (i.e., safety and comfort, believability, simplicity, acceptability, extensibility, affordability, and mobility). Our initial results are promising and constitute the necessary first step toward a possible investigation of the efficiency and effectiveness of such a system in terms of learning outcomes and experience. KW - virtual reality training KW - immersive classroom management KW - immersive classroom KW - virtual agent interaction KW - student simulation Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-147945 VL - 3 IS - 26 ER - TY - THES A1 - Roth, Daniel T1 - Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Hybrid Interactions in Virtual Reality T1 - Intrapersonelle, Interpersonelle und Hybride Interaktionen in Virtual Reality N2 - Virtual reality and related media and communication technologies have a growing impact on professional application fields and our daily life. Virtual environments have the potential to change the way we perceive ourselves and how we interact with others. In comparison to other technologies, virtual reality allows for the convincing display of a virtual self-representation, an avatar, to oneself and also to others. This is referred to as user embodiment. Avatars can be of varying realism and abstraction in their appearance and in the behaviors they convey. Such userembodying interfaces, in turn, can impact the perception of the self as well as the perception of interactions. For researchers, designers, and developers it is of particular interest to understand these perceptual impacts, to apply them to therapy, assistive applications, social platforms, or games, for example. The present thesis investigates and relates these impacts with regard to three areas: intrapersonal effects, interpersonal effects, and effects of social augmentations provided by the simulation. With regard to intrapersonal effects, we specifically explore which simulation properties impact the illusion of owning and controlling a virtual body, as well as a perceived change in body schema. Our studies lead to the construction of an instrument to measure these dimensions and our results indicate that these dimensions are especially affected by the level of immersion, the simulation latency, as well as the level of personalization of the avatar. With regard to interpersonal effects we compare physical and user-embodied social interactions, as well as different degrees of freedom in the replication of nonverbal behavior. Our results suggest that functional levels of interaction are maintained, whereas aspects of presence can be affected by avatar-mediated interactions, and collaborative motor coordination can be disturbed by immersive simulations. Social interaction is composed of many unknown symbols and harmonic patterns that define our understanding and interpersonal rapport. For successful virtual social interactions, a mere replication of physical world behaviors to virtual environments may seem feasible. However, the potential of mediated social interactions goes beyond this mere replication. In a third vein of research, we propose and evaluate alternative concepts on how computers can be used to actively engage in mediating social interactions, namely hybrid avatar-agent technologies. Specifically, we investigated the possibilities to augment social behaviors by modifying and transforming user input according to social phenomena and behavior, such as nonverbal mimicry, directed gaze, joint attention, and grouping. Based on our results we argue that such technologies could be beneficial for computer-mediated social interactions such as to compensate for lacking sensory input and disturbances in data transmission or to increase aspects of social presence by visual substitution or amplification of social behaviors. Based on related work and presented findings, the present thesis proposes the perspective of considering computers as social mediators. Concluding from prototypes and empirical studies, the potential of technology to be an active mediator of social perception with regard to the perception of the self, as well as the perception of social interactions may benefit our society by enabling further methods for diagnosis, treatment, and training, as well as the inclusion of individuals with social disorders. To this regard, we discuss implications for our society and ethical aspects. This thesis extends previous empirical work and further presents novel instruments, concepts, and implications to open up new perspectives for the development of virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality applications. N2 - Virtual Reality und weitere Medien- und Kommunikationstechnologien haben einen wachsenden Einfluss auf professionelle Anwendungsbereiche und unseren Alltag. Virtuelle Umgebungen haben das Potenzial, Einfluss darauf zu nehmen, wie Mensche sich selbst wahrnehmen und wie sie mit anderen umgehen. Im Vergleich zu anderen Technologien ermöglicht Virtual Reality die überzeugende Visualisierung einer virtuellen Selbstdarstellung, eines Avatars, sichtbar für den Nutzer/die Nutzerin selbst aber auch für andere. Dies bezeichnet man als Nutzerverk¨orperung. Avatare können von unterschiedlichem Realismus und Abstraktion in Bezug auf ihr Aussehen sowie der Darstellung von Verhaltensweisen geprägt sein. Solche nutzerverkörpernde Schnittstellen wiederum können die Wahrnehmung des Selbst sowie die Wahrnehmung von Interaktionen beeinflussen. Für Forscher/-innen, Designer/-innen und Entwickler/-innen ist es von besonderem Interesse, diese Wahrnehmungseffekte zu verstehen, um sie beispielsweise auf Therapie, assistive Anwendungen, soziale Plattformen oder Spiele anzuwenden. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht und bezieht sich auf diese Auswirkungen in drei Bereichen: intrapersonelle Effekte, zwischenmenschliche Effekte sowie Effekte durch soziale Augmentierungen, die durch die Simulation bereitgestellt werden. Im Hinblick auf intrapersonelle Effekte widmet sich die vorliegende Arbeit insbesondere der Frage, welche Simulationseigenschaften die Illusion des Besitzens/Innehabens und der Kontrolle eines virtuellen Körpers sowie eine wahrgenommene Veränderung des Körperschemas beeinflussen. Die vorgestellten Studien führen zur Konstruktion eines Instruments zur Erfassung dieser Dimensionen und die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die empfundene Verkörperung besonders von dem Grad der Immersion, der Simulationslatenz sowie dem Grad der Personalisierung des Avatars abhängt. Im Hinblick auf zwischenmenschliche Effekte vergleicht diese Dissertation physische (realweltliche) und virtuelle soziale Interaktionen sowie unterschiedliche Freiheitsgrade in der Replikation nonverbalen Verhaltens. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die funktionalen Ebenen der Interaktion aufrechterhalten werden, während Aspekte der Präsenz durch avatarvermittelte Interaktionen beeinflusst werden und die kollaborative motorische Koordination durch immersive Simulationen gestört werden kann. Die soziale Interaktion besteht aus vielen unbekannten Symbolen und harmonischen Mustern, die das menschliche Verst¨andnis und zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen definieren. Für erfolgreiche virtuelle soziale Interaktionen mag eine bloße Replikation von physikalischenWeltverhaltensweisen auf virtuelle Umgebungen m¨oglich erscheinen. Das Potenzial computervermittelter sozialer Interaktionen geht jedoch über diese bloße Replikation hinaus. Im dritten Bereich dieser Arbeit werden alternative Konzepte vorgeschlagen und evaluiert, wie Computer genutzt werden können, um eine aktive Rolle in sozialen Interaktionen einzunehmen. Diese Technologien werden als hybride Avatar-Agenten-Technologien definiert. Insbesondere wird untersucht, welche Möglichkeiten das soziale Verhalten zu erweitern emtstehen, indem die Verhaltensweisen der Benutzer/-innen entsprechend sozialer Ph¨anomene und Verhaltensweisen modifiziert und transformiert werden. Beispiele sind die nonverbale Spiegelung, der Fokus des Blicks, eine gemeinsame Aufmerksamkeit und die Gruppenbildung. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen argumentiert diese Arbeit, dass solche Technologien für computervermittelte soziale Interaktionen von Vorteil sein könnten, beispielsweise zum Ausgleich fehlender Sensorik, Störungen bei der Datenübertragung oder zur Verbesserung sozialer Präsenz durch visuelle Substitution oder Verstärkung des sozialen Verhaltens. Basierend auf verwandten Arbeiten und präsentierten Ergebnissen wird abgeleitet, dass Computer als soziale Mediatoren fungieren können. Ausgehend von Prototypen und empirischen Studien kann das Potenzial der Technologie, ein aktiver Vermittler in Bezug auf dieWahrnehmung des Selbst sowie dieWahrnehmung sozialer Interaktionen zu sein, unserer Gesellschaft zugutekommen. Dadurch können beispielsweise weitere Methoden zur Diagnose, der Behandlung und Ausbildung sowie der Inklusion von Menschen mit sozialen Störungen ermöglicht werden. In diesem Zusammenhang werden die Auswirkungen auf unsere Gesellschaft und ethische Aspekte diskutiert. Diese Arbeit erweitert frühere empirische Arbeiten und präasentiert darüber hinaus neue Instrumente, Konzepte und Implikationen, um neue Perspektiven für die Entwicklung von Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality und Augmented Reality Anwendungen zu beleuchten. KW - Virtuelle Realität KW - Mensch-Maschine-Kommunikation KW - virtual embodiment KW - virtual social interaction KW - hybrid avatar-agent systems KW - collaborative interaction KW - avatars KW - virtual reality KW - augmented reality KW - social artificial intelligence KW - Avatar KW - Künstliche Intelligenz Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-188627 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bencurova, Elena A1 - Shityakov, Sergey A1 - Schaack, Dominik A1 - Kaltdorf, Martin A1 - Sarukhanyan, Edita A1 - Hilgarth, Alexander A1 - Rath, Christin A1 - Montenegro, Sergio A1 - Roth, Günter A1 - Lopez, Daniel A1 - Dandekar, Thomas T1 - Nanocellulose composites as smart devices with chassis, light-directed DNA Storage, engineered electronic properties, and chip integration JF - Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology N2 - The rapid development of green and sustainable materials opens up new possibilities in the field of applied research. Such materials include nanocellulose composites that can integrate many components into composites and provide a good chassis for smart devices. In our study, we evaluate four approaches for turning a nanocellulose composite into an information storage or processing device: 1) nanocellulose can be a suitable carrier material and protect information stored in DNA. 2) Nucleotide-processing enzymes (polymerase and exonuclease) can be controlled by light after fusing them with light-gating domains; nucleotide substrate specificity can be changed by mutation or pH change (read-in and read-out of the information). 3) Semiconductors and electronic capabilities can be achieved: we show that nanocellulose is rendered electronic by iodine treatment replacing silicon including microstructures. Nanocellulose semiconductor properties are measured, and the resulting potential including single-electron transistors (SET) and their properties are modeled. Electric current can also be transported by DNA through G-quadruplex DNA molecules; these as well as classical silicon semiconductors can easily be integrated into the nanocellulose composite. 4) To elaborate upon miniaturization and integration for a smart nanocellulose chip device, we demonstrate pH-sensitive dyes in nanocellulose, nanopore creation, and kinase micropatterning on bacterial membranes as well as digital PCR micro-wells. Future application potential includes nano-3D printing and fast molecular processors (e.g., SETs) integrated with DNA storage and conventional electronics. This would also lead to environment-friendly nanocellulose chips for information processing as well as smart nanocellulose composites for biomedical applications and nano-factories. KW - nanocellulose KW - DNA storage KW - light-gated proteins KW - single-electron transistors KW - protein chip Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-283033 SN - 2296-4185 VL - 10 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Walther, Grit A1 - Zimmermann, Anna A1 - Theuersbacher, Johanna A1 - Kaerger, Kerstin A1 - Lilienfeld-Toal, Marie von A1 - Roth, Mathias A1 - Kampik, Daniel A1 - Geerling, Gerd A1 - Kurzai, Oliver T1 - Eye infections caused by filamentous fungi: spectrum and antifungal susceptibility of the prevailing agents in Germany JF - Journal of Fungi N2 - Fungal eye infections can lead to loss of vision and blindness. The disease is most prevalent in the tropics, although case numbers in moderate climates are increasing as well. This study aimed to determine the dominating filamentous fungi causing eye infections in Germany and their antifungal susceptibility profiles in order to improve treatment, including cases with unidentified pathogenic fungi. As such, we studied all filamentous fungi isolated from the eye or associated materials that were sent to the NRZMyk between 2014 and 2020. All strains were molecularly identified and antifungal susceptibility testing according to the EUCAST protocol was performed for common species. In total, 242 strains of 66 species were received. Fusarium was the dominating genus, followed by Aspergillus, Purpureocillium, Alternaria, and Scedosporium. The most prevalent species in eye samples were Fusarium petroliphilum, F. keratoplasticum, and F. solani of the Fusarium solani species complex. The spectrum of species comprises less susceptible taxa for amphotericin B, natamycin, and azoles, including voriconazole. Natamycin is effective for most species but not for Aspergillus flavus or Purpureocillium spp. Some strains of F. solani show MICs higher than 16 mg/L. Our data underline the importance of species identification for correct treatment. KW - eye infection KW - fungal infection KW - keratitis KW - antifungal susceptibility KW - natamycin KW - Fusarium KW - Purpureocillium KW - Aspergillus KW - Alternaria KW - Scedosporium Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-241810 SN - 2309-608X VL - 7 IS - 7 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gall, Dominik A1 - Roth, Daniel A1 - Stauffert, Jan-Philipp A1 - Zarges, Julian A1 - Latoschik, Marc Erich T1 - Embodiment in Virtual Reality Intensifies Emotional Responses to Virtual Stimuli JF - Frontiers in Psychology N2 - Modulating emotional responses to virtual stimuli is a fundamental goal of many immersive interactive applications. In this study, we leverage the illusion of illusory embodiment and show that owning a virtual body provides means to modulate emotional responses. In a single-factor repeated-measures experiment, we manipulated the degree of illusory embodiment and assessed the emotional responses to virtual stimuli. We presented emotional stimuli in the same environment as the virtual body. Participants experienced higher arousal, dominance, and more intense valence in the high embodiment condition compared to the low embodiment condition. The illusion of embodiment thus intensifies the emotional processing of the virtual environment. This result suggests that artificial bodies can increase the effectiveness of immersive applications psychotherapy, entertainment, computer-mediated social interactions, or health applications. KW - embodiment KW - virtual body ownership KW - avatars KW - agency KW - immersive interfaces KW - human-computer interaction KW - affective computing KW - emotions Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-245624 SN - 1664-1078 VL - 12 ER -