From May 21 to May 24, 2024, we hosted an enriching week of collaborative activities with students and faculty from the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering. This event was primarily organized by Professor Victoria Interrante from the University of Minnesota, Professor Kiyoshi Kiyokawa from the CARE Lab, and Professor Taishi Sawabe from the IMD Lab, aiming to introduce students to cutting-edge research and hands-on experiences in virtual reality and human augmentation technologies in Japan.
The highlight of the visit was a series of Ideathon sessions, jointly organized by the CARE Lab and the IMD Lab. Across five 90-minute sessions, participants explored innovative themes ranging from autonomous vehicles to human-robot interaction, future AR applications, and living in the age of AI. Each session began with a brief research introduction, followed by group discussions and creative brainstorming in smaller teams. The culmination of each session was a series of presentations, where students from both institutions shared their innovative solutions and received constructive feedback.
In addition to the Ideathon, the visitors had the opportunity to explore the CARE and IMD labs through guided tours. NAIST students and researchers showcased a range of projects, including AR-based haptic feedback systems and cutting-edge human augmentation technologies. These tours offered a glimpse into the active research culture at NAIST and sparked meaningful exchanges of ideas between the groups.
Cultural exchange was another key aspect of the visit. The joint dinners provided a relaxed setting for students to connect and share their experiences. The visit concluded with a group photo in front of the NAIST Information Science building, a testament to the successful collaboration. This event not only strengthened the bond between NAIST and the University of Minnesota but also inspired students from both institutions to explore innovative approaches to virtual reality and human augmentation technologies.
