Call for Abstracts: HCSNet Workshop on Human and Machine Perception and Action

Details Title: HCSNet Workshop on Perception and Action
Type: Call for Abstracts
Date: Nov. 30 2006
Location: University of Sydney

A one-day workshop on Perception and Action will be held on November 30 during the HCSNet SummerFest at the University of Sydney.

The aim of the workshop is to bring together established and emerging researchers to discuss hot topics in Perception and Action as it applies to Human Communication Science. The ultimate goal is to facilitate new collaborations that lead to novel projects, new interactions between disciplines, and fresh approaches to perception and action.

Background

Evidence accumulates that perception and action are linked. The process of producing actions and reading actions by others is one of neural mirroring or simulation. Despite the coupling of perception and action in humans, the two are often considered separate domains of research. Similarly, many machine systems have been designed for either perception or production, e.g., automatic speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, computer vision. As technology advances multimodal systems capable of both perception and production are on the increase. In parallel with those developments there is increasing interest in inter-sensory processing in humans. How can knowledge emerging in the area of perception-action and motor-simulation inform and enhance new multimodal technologies such as avatars, personal assistants, and embodied conversational agents? For example, can motor simulation be modeled? Can systems be programmed to develop expectancies and to anticipate actions and responses? Can systems be developed that solve problems or interpret information from more than one sensory domain?

The way that humans attend to particular information from the wide array available, and use this information to guide and direct action, is not only of theoretical and practical interest for studies on human behaviour and human movement, but also for human studies of when such behaviours go awry in such conditions as motor disorders, and studies of machine-based learning and robotics.

No one discipline will solve these complex problems - an integrated interdisciplinary approach is required, which might include input from a range of areas, e.g., visual and auditory perception, motor control, motor learning, cognitive neuroscience, psycholinguistics, sign language, gesture analysis, non-verbal communication, music perception and performance, computer science, and signal processing.

The Perception and Action Workshop will be held under the umbrella of the HCSNet SummerFest, a multi-disciplinary event encompassing a number of workshops and courses held around the theme of Human Communication Science. The Perception and Action stream will begin with “Speed Paper” sessions on November 29, open to researchers to present their research areas to the wider community. A one-day workshop on November 30, with invited presentations and keynote speakers, will follow. The goal of the workshop will be to develop links and relationships to identify and plan interdisciplinary strategies to address and solve the issues and problems identified in during the meeting.

Any registrants presenting in the Speed Paper sessions or at an associated workshop will have their registration fee waived for SummerFest (Summer School, Speed Papers, Keynotes, Workshops).

We are interested in receiving 200 word abstracts for short speed papers (5 minutes, 4 slides) on any aspect of Human and Machine Perception and Action. In addition to new and novel findings presentations can include outlines of a current or anticipated research projects, risky or whimsical project ideas, calls for collaboration and so on.

Thematic topics might include:

  • Cognitive neuroscience and mirroring
  • Visual, auditory, and other perceptual processes
  • Intersensory interactions
  • Human/Machine interfaces
  • Machine-based learning
  • Robotics.
  • Motor disorders and motor control
  • Motor learning
  • Psycholinguistics, sign language, non-verbal communication, and gesture analysis
  • Music perception and performance
  • Computer science
  • Signal processing
In addition, we welcome submissions on any other topic of interest to those interested in Perception and Action. In particular, we encourage submissions that broaden the scope of the Perception and Action community through multi-disciplinary research.

Submission Format

Please submit a title and 200 word abstract via email using the following naming convention in the subject line of your email: 

[surname]_[initial]_[event]
Where [event] is P&A (Perception and Action Workshop).

For example:

  • Buckley_K_P&A = Kym Buckley's abstract for the Perception and Action Workshop

Please mail your submissions to us at sfest06@hcsnet.edu.au by 8 September 2006.

Important Dates

Abstract submission: September 8 2006
Notification of acceptance: September 29, 2006
Speed Papers: Nov 29 2006
Workshop: Nov 30, 2006

Workshop Organisers:

A/Prof Rick van der Zwan
A/Prof Kate Stevens