How do immersive technologies change the way we perceive and understand stories? The new DFG Research Training Group TESDA investigates this question. Prof. Marc Erich Latoschik and his team from the HCI Group are significantly involved with three subprojects on storytelling in immersive virtual reality.
The AIL team contributed to the event with three demonstrators, two questionnaires, and training material on AI literacy.
Discover what influences your perception of embodied AI Agents and how you can design them to be trustworthy coworkers, presented by the AIL AT WORK project team.
David Obremski received the Dissertation Award of the University of Würzburg and the Unterfränkische Gendenkjahrstiftung for his Dissertation
Recent Publications
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Ready for VR? Assessing VR Competence and Exploring the Role of Human Abilities and Characteristics, In Frontiers in Virtual Reality.
2025.
[Download] [BibSonomy]
[Download] [BibSonomy]
@article{oberdorfer2025ready,
author = {Sebastian Oberdörfer and Melina Heinisch and Tobias Mühling and Verena Schreiner and Sarah König and Marc Erich Latoschik},
journal = {Frontiers in Virtual Reality},
url = {http://downloads.hci.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/2025-oberdoerfer-frontiers-vr-competence-preprint.pdf},
year = {2025},
title = {Ready for VR? Assessing VR Competence and Exploring the Role of Human Abilities and Characteristics}
}
Abstract:
The use of VR for educational purposes provides the opportunity for integrating VR applications into assessments or graded examinations. Interacting with an VR environment requires specific human abilities, thus suggesting the existence of a VR competence. With regard to the emerging field of VR-based examinations, this VR competence might influence a candidate's final grade and hence should be taken into account. In this paper, we proposed and developed a VR competence assessment application. The application features eight individual challenges that are based on generic 3D interaction techniques. In a pilot study, we measured the performance of 18 users. By identifying significant correlations between VR competence score, previous VR experience and theoretically-grounded contributing human abilities and characteristics, we provide first evidence that our VR competence assessment is effective. In addition, we provide first data that a specific VR competence exists. Our analyses further revealed that mainly spatial ability but also immersive tendency correlated with VR competence scores. These insights not only allow educators and researchers to assess and potentially equalize the VR competence level of their subjects, but also help designers to provide effective tutorials for first-time VR users.
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Eye-to-Eye or Face-to-Face? Face and Head Substitution for Co-Located AR, In Justine Saint-Aubert (Eds.), Frontiers in Virtual Reality, Vol. 6.
2025. provisionally accepted
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
@article{kullmann2025eyetoeye,
author = {Peter Kullmann and Theresa Schell and Mario Botsch and Marc Erich Latoschik},
journal = {Frontiers in Virtual Reality},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virtual-reality/articles/10.3389/frvir.2025.1594350/},
year = {2025},
editor = {Justine Saint-Aubert},
volume = {6},
doi = {10.3389/frvir.2025.1594350},
title = {Eye-to-Eye or Face-to-Face? Face and Head Substitution for Co-Located AR}
}
Abstract:
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femtoPro: Teaching and Training of Ultrafast Optics in Virtual Reality, In 2025 IEEE Conference on Education and Training in Optics and Photonics (ETOP), pp. 1-4.
2025.
[BibSonomy] [Doi]
[BibSonomy] [Doi]
@inproceedings{11030702,
author = {S. Müller and A. Müller and S. Truman and T. Buhl and S. von Mammen and T. Brixner},
year = {2025},
booktitle = {2025 IEEE Conference on Education and Training in Optics and Photonics (ETOP)},
pages = {1-4},
doi = {10.1109/ETOP64842.2025.11030702},
title = {femtoPro: Teaching and Training of Ultrafast Optics in Virtual Reality}
}
Abstract:
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Objective Measurement of AI Literacy: Development and Validation of the AI Competency Objective Scale (AICOS).
2025.
[Download] [BibSonomy]
[Download] [BibSonomy]
@misc{markus2025objectivemeasurementailiteracy,
author = {André Markus and Astrid Carolus and Carolin Wienrich},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.12921},
year = {2025},
title = {Objective Measurement of AI Literacy: Development and Validation of the AI Competency Objective Scale (AICOS)}
}
Abstract:
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Virtual body image exercises for people with obesity -- results on eating behavior and body perception of the ViTraS pilot study, In BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, Vol. 25(1), p. 176.
2025.
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
@article{Gemesi2025,
author = {Kathrin Gemesi and Nina Döllinger and Natascha-Alexandra Weinberger and Erik Wolf and David Mal and Sebastian Keppler and Stephan Wenninger and Emily Bader and Carolin Wienrich and Claudia Luck-Sikorski and Marc Erich Latoschik and Johann Habakuk Israel and Mario Botsch and Christina Holzapfel},
journal = {BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making},
number = {1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-025-02993-x},
year = {2025},
pages = {176},
volume = {25},
doi = {10.1186/s12911-025-02993-x},
title = {Virtual body image exercises for people with obesity -- results on eating behavior and body perception of the ViTraS pilot study}
}
Abstract:
A negative body image can have an impact on developing and maintaining obesity. Using virtual reality (VR) to conduct cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an innovative approach to treat people with obesity. This multicenter non-randomized pilot study examined the feasibility and the effect on eating behavior and body perception of a newly developed VR system to conduct body image exercises.
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Owning the (Virtual) World: A Systematic Review of Psychological Ownership of Interactive Virtual Objects and Environments, In Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, p. 1–16.
ACM,
2025.
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
@inproceedings{Krauss_2025,
author = {Jana Krauss and Carolin Wienrich},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713750},
year = {2025},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems},
publisher = {ACM},
series = {CHI ’25},
pages = {1–16},
doi = {10.1145/3706598.3713750},
title = {Owning the (Virtual) World: A Systematic Review of Psychological Ownership of Interactive Virtual Objects and Environments}
}
Abstract:
,
Avatars for the masses: smartphone-based reconstruction of humans for virtual reality, In Frontiers in Virtual Reality, Vol. 6.
2025.
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
@article{menzel2025avatars,
author = {Timo Menzel and Erik Wolf and Stephan Wenninger and Niklas Spinczyk and Lena Holderrieth and Carolin Wienrich and Ulrich Schwanecke and Marc Erich Latoschik and Mario Botsch},
journal = {Frontiers in Virtual Reality},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virtual-reality/articles/10.3389/frvir.2025.1583474/pdf},
year = {2025},
volume = {6},
doi = {10.3389/frvir.2025.1583474},
title = {Avatars for the masses: smartphone-based reconstruction of humans for virtual reality}
}
Abstract:
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The impact of algorithm awareness training on competent interaction with intelligent voice assistants, In Discover Education, Vol. 4(1), p. 125.
2025.
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
[Download] [BibSonomy] [Doi]
@article{Markus2025,
author = {André Markus and Maximilian Baumann and Jan Pfister and Andreas Hotho and Astrid Carolus and Carolin Wienrich},
journal = {Discover Education},
number = {1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00522-6},
year = {2025},
pages = {125},
volume = {4},
doi = {10.1007/s44217-025-00522-6},
title = {The impact of algorithm awareness training on competent interaction with intelligent voice assistants}
}
Abstract:
Intelligent Voice Assistants (IVAs) have become integral to many users' daily lives, using advanced algorithms to automate various tasks. Nevertheless, many users do not understand the underlying algorithms and how they work, posing potential risks to the competent and self-determined use of IVAs. This work develops three online training modules to promote algorithm awareness, providing (1) basic knowledge of algorithms, (2) risks posed by algorithms in IVAs, and (3) scientific evidence on algorithm aversion. A total of 110 participants were studied to analyze the training effects on various perception levels relevant to IVAs, including usage perception (attitude, exploration), privacy aspects (trustworthiness, privacy control), persuasion aspects (persuasion knowledge, anthropomorphic perception), and self-determined interaction variables (reflection, indulgence). The results show that the modules increase awareness of IVA algorithms, influence user perceptions (e.g., higher exploration intentions), and promote critical engagement with IVAs (e.g., lower trustworthiness). Moreover, the modules contribute to a higher sense of privacy control, reduce persuasive perceptions of IVAs (e.g., anthropomorphic perception), and promote self-determined interaction (e.g., higher indulgent use). The modules offer a new approach to promoting the competent use of IVAs in society and provide a starting point for further research and educational institutions to increase algorithm awareness for IVAs and other AI-based systems.
