iv4XR: Intelligent Verification/Validation for Extended Reality Based Systems
iv4XR (Intelligent Verification/Validation for Extended Reality Based Systems), a Horizon 2020-funded European project, finished its run on 31 December 2022 with some very exciting outputs.
Coordinated by Rui Prada — INESC-ID Artificial Intelligence for People and Society Senior Researcher and Associate Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico — and active between October 2019 and December 2022, iv4XR aimed to build “a novel verification and validation technology for XR [Extended Reality] systems based on techniques from AI to provide learning and reasoning over a virtual world.” Ultimately, iv4XR provided a novel toolkit for XR developers to test and explore their XR systems as they build them, bit by bit.
“Automating Quality Assurance (QA) tests of XR systems is a challenging but promising research field. It can bring great benefits to the XR industry by extending the possibilities of current QA practices and reducing its costs by reducing the need for user testing,” Prada commented.
The project has delivered the iv4xr toolkit — a multi-agent testing framework — as well as a bounty of publications. Looking back from the final consortium meeting that was held in person on 29 November 2022 in Utrecht (the Netherlands), Rui Prada emphasized that “In the past three years, the iv4XR team was highly engaged in achieving the ambitious vision of the project. We are proud of the results presented in the toolkit that establish the basis for agent-based testing as a practice to test XR systems. Our studies in the domains of games, AI simulations, and sensor networks show promising results for the value of the approach. We close the project with a sense of accomplishment, but with the certainty that many interesting research questions remain.”
To sum up the project the iv4XR team prepared the video below. Have a look at how XR system testing has just become easier:
Upcoming Events
OLISSIPO Workshop: “How to design a graphical abstract” with Dr. Rita Félix (CNC-UC)
On April 19, the OLISSIPO project will host an 8-hour workshop titled “How to design a graphical abstract” with Dr. Rita Félix, a science communicator, illustrator and designer from CNC Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (Coimbra, Portugal). Registration is free and seating is limited.
Registration Deadline: April 5 | Register here (free but mandatory)
Date & Time: April 19, 09h00-18h00 ( 8-hours)
Where: INESC-ID, R. Alves Redol 9, 1000-029 Lisboa | Room 9 (Auditorium), Ground Floor
Summary: “How to design a graphical abstract” Workshop aims to explain what a graphical abstract is, and give you design tools and tips on how to create a better, clear and engaging graphical abstract. This workshop is tailored to give you tools and improve your graphical abstract, without having to learn how to use a new software program (like Adobe Illustrator). Bring your graphical abstract, share it with the class, work on it and take home a new version.
Short Bio: Rita Félix is a science communicator, illustrator and designer, with life sciences research experience. Currently working as the Institutional Communication Manager and Designer at CNC-UC. She completed her PhD in Neuroscience in 2020, in the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme. After that, she enrolled in a Digital Illustration Specialization Course to further develop her visualization and design skills. Worked as a Scientific Graphic Designer at Science Crunchers, a science communication company, where she developed multiple graphical abstracts, article figures, infographics, diagrams, illustrations, visual identity, logos and webdesign for companies, scientific institutions and Horizon 2020 consortia. More information at https://ritallfelix.wixsite.com/portfolio .
INESC-ID talk: “Rise of the AI-Empowered End User Software Engineer” by Ed Ayers and Andy Gordon (Cogna)
On April 19, INESC-ID will host a talk by Ed Ayers and Andy Gordon from the startup Cogna. The talk is titled “Rise of the AI-Empowered End User Software Engineer” and is organised by INESC-ID researcher Nuno Lopes.
Date & Time: April 19, 15h00 -16h00
Where: INESC-ID, Rua Alves Redol, 9, 1000-029 Lisboa | Room 9 (Auditorium), Ground Floor
Summary:
“What if natural language really is the new programming language? Inspired by the transformation of professional software engineering by generative AI, let’s take the next step: empowering end users. We can boost their productivity with hyper-customized software generated from natural language. This challenge needs research right across software engineering: requirements, architecture, coding, testing, verification, repair, and maintenance. We will survey current progress and open research questions in this exciting new area of programming language research.”
(Photo: Cogna website)