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Keynote Lectures

Synergistic Collaboration between Humans and Embodied AI Agents
Frank Steinicke, University of Hamburg, Germany

The Challenges of Measuring User Experience: Some Lessons From Digital Games
Paul Cairns, Computer Science, University of York, United Kingdom

Equitable Access to Virtual Reality: Creating Tailored Experiences With Disabled Users
Kathrin Gerling, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany

Synergistic Collaboration between Humans and Embodied AI Agents

Frank Steinicke
University of Hamburg, Germany

Short Bio
Frank Steinicke is a professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the Department of Informatics at the Universität Hamburg. From 2018 to 2020, he headed the Department of Informatics at the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics, and Natural Sciences. Prior to his current position, he was a professor of Computer Science in Media at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Würzburg and chair of the Immersive Media Group from 2011 to 2014. Between 2012 and 2014, he was the director of the interdisciplinary Institute for Human Computer Media at the University of Würzburg. He studied Mathematics with a Minor in Computer Science at the University of Münster, from which he received his PhD and Venia Legendi in Computer Science. His research interests are focused on understanding the human perceptual, cognitive, and motor abilities and limitations to improve interactions and experiences in computer-mediated realities. For his scientific contributions, he received the IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Technical Achievement Award in 2023 and was inducted into the prestigious IEEE VR Academy. In 2024, he was inaugurated in the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg, and has been inducted into AWE's XR Hall of Fame in 2025. In 2026, he was inducted into the Scientific Research Honor Society. Frank Steinicke regularly serves as a panelist and speaker at major events in virtual reality and human-computer interaction. He published more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He served as program chair for several XR and HCI-related conferences, including IEEE VR 2017/2018, which is the most renowned scientific conference in the area of XR. Furthermore, he is a member of the steering committee of the IEEE VR conference and the ACM SUI symposium. Since 2026, he has been chair of the steering committee of GI SIG VR/AR. Finally, he is a (senior) member of IEEE, ACM, and GI.

Abstract
In my talk, we will examine how to design synergistic collaboration between humans and embodied AI agents. Instead of treating AI as a standalone tool, I focus on natural interaction with anthropomorphic embodied AI agents in immersive spaces. I’ll discuss practical design strategies and evaluation considerations, arguing that well-aligned human–AI teamwork can outperform either partner alone in real, dynamic environments.

The Challenges of Measuring User Experience: Some Lessons From Digital Games

Paul Cairns
Computer Science, University of York, United Kingdom

Short Bio
Paul Cairns is Professor of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) at the University of York. He has been investigating players' experiences of digital games for over twenty years. He is particularly interested in operationalising and measuring concepts such as immersion, challenge, and uncertainty that players experience when playing. He is also very keen to ensure the inclusion and accessibility of games through understanding the experience of games for disabled players. In order to understand the complex landscape of digital games, Paul has also had to use diverse research methods and promote their adoption in HCI. As a result, he has written two books, Research Methods for HCI and Doing Better Statistics in HCI.

Abstract
Questionnaires have been the mainstay of user experience measurement across a range of experiences including usability, hedonic quality, and user motivations. In this keynote, I will draw on my work on developing and deploying questionnaires used in digital games research. Through that work, it becomes clear that there is a tension between the typical, accepted statistical indicators of questionnaire quality, particularly Cronbach alpha, and conceptual validity, that is, whether a questionnaire is really measuring what you think it is measuring. I hope to point to some of the pitfalls of working with user experience questionnaires but also some things as individual researchers and a research community that we can do to improve things.

Equitable Access to Virtual Reality: Creating Tailored Experiences With Disabled Users

Kathrin Gerling
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany

Short Bio
Kathrin Gerling is a Professor of Human-Computer Interaction and Accessibility at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, and head of the research group Human-Computer Interaction and Accessibility. Central to the research of her group is the question of how interactive technology can be designed to support human self-determination, and how we can achieve experiential accessibility: accessibility that strives for equitable experiences and seeks to provide engaging user experiences. Her work has been recognized through multiple awards, including Best Paper Awards at leading venues in HCI such as CHI, and an ERC Starting Grant. She is a member of the steering committee of CHI PLAY, and she is part of the editorial boards of PACM HCI and ACM TACCESS.

Abstract
Virtual Reality holds the promise of immersing users in virtual worlds, but at the same time, the technology places demands on human bodies that result in access barriers for disabled people. The keynote will explore the state of VR accessibility through the lens of physical, digital, and experiential accessibility, focusing on hardware and software prototypes for alternative and adaptive ways of interacting with VR. It will close with reflections on whether we can arrive at scalable accessibility solutions for body-centric technology, and how to move toward equitable VR experiences for all of us.