A Discussion on Artificial Intelligence (taking place in a Virtual World)

A Discussion on Artificial Intelligence (taking place in a Virtual World)
2022-11-30

On 22nd November 2022, Professor Donald Hislop, and Luciana Blaha (Associate Professor, Heriot Watt University), presented a seminar on the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies, which was organised and hosted by the Scottish AI Alliance. While it was an online event, it was not on one of the usual technology platforms such as Teams or Zoom, that have become very familiar to many since the start of the covid pandemic. Instead, it occurred in a virtual world, on a technology platform called Gathertown.

 Gathertown is part of a technological development towards the use of immersive, virtual worlds, which comes under the ‘metaverse’ label, an increasingly popular, and much hyped concept, which some argue is how the internet, and virtual communication will evolve.

 Gathertown allows people to enter a 2D virtual world using a phone, tablet or computer, where they appear as an avatar (which can be customised). People’s avatars can then navigate around a virtual world. To simulate real world social interaction, when two avatars go close to each other, their camera’s and microphones become active, and they can have a private conversation. It also has the facility to undertake ‘traditional’ style presentation, in a virtual seminar room, with the presenter’s avatar’s on a podium, and the attendee’s avatars ‘sitting’ on virtual seats.

The technology worked smoothly for the event (see screenshot – courtesy of Kathy Horne), which began with the presenters having some virtual socialisation with attendees (via their avatars moving together), and was then followed by an interactive presentation and discussion on developments with artificial intelligence technologies, and their implementation and use in workplaces. One key finding was that most attendees labelled themselves as ‘pragmatists’ regarding AI technologies, and that while they were sceptical about some of the hype regarding their use, they were optimistic regarding the potential for these technologies to have positive benefits for work, and society, if managed and controlled effectively.

Overall, it was an effective event, and an interesting experiment in the use of virtual technologies.

Kathy Horne, a retired lecturer in computing, and a technology enthusiast, was part of the audience at the event summarised her experience as follows:

“I felt that the experience of using Gather Town was positive overall. Compared to conventional video applications, social interaction was easier and fun.  I enjoyed creating a customised avatar and being able to move about the rooms and talk to different people. It provides a nice social edge. I sat on a comfortable chair in a breakout area and chatted to another attendee.  The user interface has a retro video game feel and I believe can be customised to the users requirements. Only being able to move around the room in four directions and using the arrow keys was a bit clunky and annoying at times. However, I really enjoyed the experience.”

Published by Business School, University of Aberdeen

Search Blog

Browse by Month

2024

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2024
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2024
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2024
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2024
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2024
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2024
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2024
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2024
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2024
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2024
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2024

2023

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2023
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2023
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2023
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2023
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2023
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2023
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2023
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2023
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2023
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2023
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2023

2022

  1. Jan
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2022
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2022
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2022
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2022
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2022
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2022
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2022

2021

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2021
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2021
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2021
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2021
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2020

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2020
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2020
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2020
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2020

2019

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2019
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2019
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2019
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2019

2018

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2018
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2018

2017

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2017
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2017
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2017
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2017
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2017
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2017
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2017
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2017
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2017
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2017
  11. Nov
  12. Dec