More Fun and Games with Playful Collaboration

Slides, Virtual Worlds Demo

Speaker: Walt Scacchi, UC Irvine/ISR

Abstract:

In this talk, I describe recent results from game-centered research projects. This includes demonstrations of possible virtual worlds (VWs) that may arise in the next few years. One focuses on envisioning a virtual dating scenario in a simulated VW in order to help surface emerging cultural and technological requirements for future VWs. The other focuses on exploring alternative depictions of complex multi-person work arrangements in an advanced manufacturing setting, built as a game mod, that can serve as both a work practices simulator and training environment.

Bio:

Walt Scacchi is senior research scientist and research faculty member in the Institute for Software Research, and also research director of the Computer Game Culture and Technology Laboratory, both at UC Irvine. He received a Ph.D. in Information and Computer Science at University of California, Irvine in 1981. From 1981-1998, he was a professor at the University of Southern California. Dr. Scacchi returned to UC Irvine in 1999. His research interests include open source software development, knowledge-based systems for modeling and simulating complex engineering and business processes, computer game culture and technology, developing decentralized heterogeneous information systems, software acquisition and electronic commerce/business,and organizational analysis of system development projects. Dr. Scacchi has been a member of ACM and IEEE for the past 30 years. He is an active researcher with more than 150 research publications. He has directed 45 externally funded research projects. He also has had numerous consulting and visiting scientist positions with more than 25 firms or institutes, including four start-up ventures.