Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Tech Tuesday: IU Experts to Discuss Interactive Workforce Mapping and Virtual Reality Challenges and Opportunities

Two Indiana University experts will speak on advancing workforce readiness and the challenges and opportunities existing in virtual reality technology. Their talk, part of the Tech Tuesday series presented by IN3 and Midwest Tech Bridge, will take place from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at The Mill in Bloomington, Indiana. The session can be attended either in person or virtually.

The speakers and a summary of their talks include:

• Michael Ginda is a senior research analyst at IU’s Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center located within the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. His work focuses on development of visual analytics tools in support of workforce development, as well as educational evaluation and learning analytics for graduate education.

His talk will center on initial results of the center’s efforts to design new occupation and skills ecosystem maps. Attendees will gain insight into workforce trends, understand the importance of these maps and how they were developed, and learn how mapping tools can identify career risks posed by artificial intelligence and machine learning.

No interactive map exists that details the complex linkages between occupations and skills currently required for our knowledge and service economy, nor the risks associated with various occupations to technological advances in machine learning, artificial intelligence and robotics on individuals’ possible careers in the future. The center’s work was supported as part of the Trusted Artificial Intelligence program, funded through the SCALE (Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement) public-private-academic model for workforce development with support of NSWC Crane and the Office of Naval Research Global.

• Andreas Bueckle is a research scientist at IU’s Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center located within the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. His interest lies in how data visualization can be used to improve performance and satisfaction for training and coaching in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and other immersive techniques in an increasingly data-driven world.

Bueckle will discuss the state-of-the-art in VR and in data visualization, as well as the perceptual and hardware challenges of VR. In-person attendees also will have the opportunity to try out modern consumer VR hardware.

In his talk, Bueckle will discuss challenges and opportunities of using VR for visualizing data and also discuss a series of real-world case studies where VR has been used to benefit research and development in the military.

Location: The presentation will take place at The Mill, located at 642 N. Madison St. in Bloomington, Indiana. For those attending in person, there will be refreshments and a post-event networking opportunity.

Mill Parking Information: Vehicles may park at the Morton Street garage at 220 N Morton St., or on 11th, Morton or Rogers streets.

QUESTIONS:

If you have any questions, please contact Julie Griffith, EVP of Strategy, Partnerships and Outreach for IN3 at jgriffith@in3indiana.com.