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Technologies enabling virtualization of humans and remote presence will revolutionize science and art and their fusion.

Aalto University, Tampere University and University of the Arts Helsinki, with the support of the Academy of Finland, have founded a digital MAGICS infrastructure. Its goal is to develop virtual presence that looks and feels as if all participants were in the same space. The joint investment of the three participating universities and the Academy of Finland is approximately 3.4 million euros.

In the MAGICS kick-off event on 06 October 2021, the participating researchers, representatives of companies in the field, and artists will tell about possibilities opened up by the new infrastructure and give virtual demonstrations.

The event will be in English.

PROGRAMME

14:30–15:30         Introduction to MAGICS, Mikko Sams, Director of MAGICS, Aalto University

Panel Discussion on Remote Presence, Atanas Gotchev, Vice Director of MAGICS, Tampere University

Panelists

• Mikko Sams, Professor of Neuroscience, Brain and Mind Laboratory, Aalto University and Director of the MAGICS infrastructure network
• Elisa Mekler, Assistant Professor in Human-Computer Interaction at Aalto University and Director of Aesthetic Experience in Interactive Systems Group
• Justin Trieger, Director of New Media and Distance Learning at New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy, Miami, FL, USA
• Kimmo Pentikäinen, Vice President, Business Development at Elisa Oyj
• Gur Arie Bittan, CEO of Mantis Vision

15:30–16:30    Demonstrations of MAGICS activities (6 á 10 min):

• VoCap platform, Mantis Vision (live stream from Israel)
• Remote operation of vehicle, Hotel Rosendahl
• Remote operation of medical robots, Hotel Rosendahl
• Multi-location demo with students from Näty (TAU) and Kuva (Uniarts) (TBC)
• Multi-location musical performance, Sebastian Schlecht, violin (Espoo) and Henna Tahvanainen, kantele (Tampere)
• Embrace jury awards the winning team who present their XR project (Espoo)

16:30                Closing of event, Mikko Sams

Registration is open until 05 October 2021 via the registration link.