Research Project
Type of Project: Funded project Study Scientific Work Dissertation Joint project
Use of neUrophysiological interfaces and tactile-assisted virtual reality to promote occupational InclusiOn

Using virtual reality to promote professional inclusion

Project Focus
The equal professional participation of people with special needs (e.g. people on the autism spectrum or attention deficit disorder) enriches collaboration through diverse perspectives and strengths. However, difficulties in social interaction often lead to the failure of professional life plans despite high cognitive abilities. Innovative technology-supported training measures can take a preventive approach at this point and strengthen interpersonal skills through learning experiences in a protected setting. UFO therefore develops an immersive multimodal innovation, development and experience space in which emotional experience qualities and regulative strategies can be experienced in the interaction with pedagogical agents by means of VR, neurosensors and tactile actuators. The functionality of the developed infrastructure will be tested under conditions suitable for everyday use and the transfer to realistic environments will be prepared. The technology thus has high potential for social application.

Project Objectives and Approach
The UFO project aims to ensure occupational participation in the case of socio-emotional support needs and build up targeted competencies in the perception and interpretation of emotional states. A novel training system is being developed in the consortium that captures brain signals and converts derived emotional states into tangible sensory perceptions. These are made "palpable" by a tactile output and enable understanding of the counterpart's sensitivities. A virtual environment provides a safe training space that can precisely support the target group's needs. The approach contributes to social awareness and promotes empathy and mutual understanding.

Innovations and Perspectives
The technical innovation of the project lies in creating a "tactile sensory extension" that makes sensitivities tangible. In all phases of the technology development, the later target group takes an active role to ensure effective support in everyday professional life.

UFO is designed as an open and modular infrastructure consisting of wearables and software to enable people with socio-emotional disabilities to experience support in their daily lives. The modular components will be published as "open source" and will also be available for external developments to the project.


Link to the UFO-project-website: https://www.ife.uni-stuttgart.de/en/llis/research/forschung/