CHCI@VT Seminar Series Headliner Speaker, Philart Jeon, October 3, 2025

Aesthetic Interactions with Machines With the rise of embodied interaction paradigms, research on emotions and affect in Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) has grown significantly, enabling a wide range of creative applications. This talk introduces the concept of “aesthetic computing” and highlights recent research on driving, robotics, and the arts conducted at the VT Mind Music Machine Lab. For example, in driving studies, auditory displays and interactive sonification have been shown to enhance driver performance and user experience. In our informal learning outreach, children learn STEM concepts and AI ethics through artistic formats such as music, dance, and drawing in a robot theater afterschool program. In the art performances, audience members’ affective experiences have been enriched by audio-augmented reality and shared VR technologies. These new platforms expand both artistic expression and perceptual possibilities. This talk aims to demonstrate the potential of aesthetic computing to foster aesthetically rich (=beautiful) interactions between people and machines.