Interactive 3D environments, social simulations, and digital games now serve vital functions across entertainment, health, education, training, and global challenges like climate change. This diverse application landscape highlights the need for innovative methods to optimize and personalize these platforms while rigorously evaluating their effectiveness. These challenges have become focal points for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and games research communities. Recent advances in transparent, human-centered AI techniques have shown significant promise in enhancing design and personalization to maximize social impact.

In this talk, Professor Magy Seif El-Nasr, Department Chair of Computational Media, will present several serious games developed in her lab as case studies discussing applying various novel approaches to enhance their design, including human-centered design, data-driven systems, and open process models. She will demonstrate how these games can be applied to areas, such as teaching research methods or teaching parallel programming concepts. Professor Seif El-Nasr will also discuss the development of an alternate reality game designed to enhance students' teamwork and resilience skills. The talk will conclude by examining the broader implications and future research opportunities these innovations present.

In Person Reception: 5:30 p.m.

Program: 6 p.m.