Keynote Talks

Human-to-human interaction (HHI) is a challenging new domain where networked information systems and intelligent environments surrounding people converge for the purpose of better satisfaction of users´ requirements and anticipation of their needs. Ubiquitous and pervasive computing are currently considered mature domains that implement and employ networked information systems on many important applications. Ambient intelligence involves the deployment of sensors and devices into the environment to enable some level of anticipation of users´ needs and requests. In addition, the ever growing communication bandwidth offers new opportunities for bringing richer multimedia contents, virtual reality, and multimodal interaction (i.e., voice and gestures as best appropriate for the given context) readily available in last generation interfaces to fixed and mobile devices. This talk deals with computational technologies that can be used to promote and enhance social interaction in public and private spaces. It discusses recent efforts attempting to encourage HHI by providing novel computing devices that serve as central gathering places wherein spontaneous communication may lead to the formation of new interpersonal relationships. New interaction modes, intelligent multimodal interfaces and different access devices will be described to define the scenario/panorama in which HHI issues are stressed.