8月28日、この秋に修了予定の Oatさん と Rahmanさん の修士論文発表会が行われ、
それぞれ 30分程度の発表と質疑応答を行い、これまでの研究成果について発表しました。

英語ではありますが発表後にお二人からいただいたコメントを以下に載せさせていただきます。

Oat: A Transformative Journey: Reflecting on My Master’s in Interactive Media and Design Lab

“My decision to pursue graduate studies was born from a deep-seated passion for international experience and a desire to elevate my professional capabilities. After four years as a software engineer in the banking and software sectors, I found myself at a critical juncture. Observing many of my colleagues pursue advanced degrees, whether through specialized courses or full-time enrollment, prompted a period of self-reflection on my own career trajectory. This led to what would become one of the most significant and rewarding decisions of my life ‘returning to school once again’.

My undergraduate experience had planted the seeds for this next step. A course on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) had fundamentally altered my perspective on technology. It taught me that innovation is not solely about possessing the fantasy features and application, but about deeply understanding the user. This human-centered approach, rooted in the principle of empathy, resonated with me on a profound level and solidified my conviction that if I were to pursue further education, HCI was the field I would choose.

Two years ago, I embarked on this journey, joining the Interactive Media and Design Lab in Japan. The experience has exceeded my expectations in every regard. The research conducted here is dedicated to improving the human experience through technology. It goes beyond the purely technical and focuses on creating solutions that genuinely enhance people’s lives. This ethics of empathy extends beyond the projects and permeates the entire lab environment. Professors and fellow students alike embody a spirit of collaboration and understanding, recognizing and supporting the unique strengths of each individual. This collective empathy has been truly remarkable to witness and be a part of.

For my master’s research, I am developing a training system to support individuals struggling with communication skills. This project has required me to conduct extensive literature reviews across diverse fields, from computer science to psychology, to identify effective methodologies for communication skill development. Through this work, I have gained invaluable insights into HCI methodologies, academic research practices, and cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality and 3D design. Coming from a corporate background, this academic immersion has been an incredibly eye-opening experience.

The knowledge and skills I have cultivated at this lab will be instrumental in my future career. The principles of human-centric design I’ve learned here will allow me to be a more empathetic and effective engineer, capable of creating solutions that are not only technologically sound but also deeply aligned with user needs. Just as the business world has embraced a “customer-centric” approach, this lab has instilled in me a human-centric mindset that I am confident will be an invaluable asset. My decision to pursue this master’s degree has undoubtedly been one of the best of my life.”

[Oat during his presentation]

Rahman: Master’s Thesis Presentation at NAIST

“I am pleased to share that I recently delivered my Master’s thesis presentation at Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan.

My thesis, titled:
“Smart Rehabilitation for Augmenting Therapists’ Skills: A Mixed Reality System for Simulating AI-Generated Patient-Specific Impaired Walking Motions and an Assistive Robotic Walker,”
focused on developing innovative systems that combine Mixed Reality, AI-driven motion generation, and robotic assistance to support therapist training and patient rehabilitation.

This presentation was an important milestone, giving me the opportunity to present two years of research and receive constructive feedback from my professors and peers. I am also grateful for the chance to collaborate with the Kyoto University, Japan and University of Trento (MIRO-Lab, Italy) whose expertise and insights greatly shaped this work.

The official result is not yet announced, but I feel encouraged and motivated by completing this stage, and I look forward to the next steps in advancing immersive technologies for healthcare.”

Both Oat and Rahman shared thoughtful insights that reflect not only their research achievements but also their personal growth during their time in the lab. We warmly congratulate them on reaching this milestone and look forward to seeing their next steps!

[Rahman during his presentation]

今年もこの時期がやってきましたね．

NAISTでは，GEIOTというビジネス，起業人材の育成のためのプログラム講義があります．

GEIOT: IoT, Ai, ビックデータ時代のイノベーション人材育成プログラム (Global Entrepreneurs on Internet of Things)

HPはこちら：https://geiot.naist.jp/

IMD助教の澤邊も，こちらの講師側として学生たちのメンタを務めて，サポートしたりしています．

今年は，去年度の二倍ほどの人数で，すごく規模が大きいので，いろんな面白いアイディアがいっぱい出てくるかな？という期待と，いろんなメンターからのフィードバックによって迷ってしまう人だ多く出てくるかも？という不安があります．

さてどんなアイディアが出てくるのでしょうか？！

（それにしてもこの講義は６月ごろから毎週土曜日に開催されるのだけど，平日に振替休日を取らないといけないというのが，少し難しいなーと感じていたり・・・）

澤邊

4/13（土）大阪・関西万博1年前記念！イマーシブ列車「EXPO TRAIN 阪急号」が開催され，

そのイベントにて，サブ研究のキーウィロボットの展示を行いました．このイベントでは，大阪・関西万博を盛り上げるためのイベントとして，阪急電車を貸切，その中で過去から未来をテーマにした様々な体験展示を行うというものになっています．IMDからは，秋吉くんと新江田くんと澤邊が参加し，キーウィロボットの体験展示やARマーカを使ったキーウィ（果物🥝）の展示を行いました．

多くの子供達が参加し，体験してくれて，とても楽しく，とてもインタラクティブに動物ロボットに触れ合って楽しんでくれたみたいです．準備など大変でしたが，とても充実した時間になり，参加した学生たちも更なる研究のアイディアを思いつくことができたとのことです．

万博でも動物ロボットの展示体験ができればいいなと思っております．（希望）