IT:U presents interdisciplinary solutions at Ars Electronica festival

The IT:U Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria is showcasing the future of interdisciplinary innovation at the Ars Electronica Festival 2024 with the theme “HOPE – who will turn the tide.” As part of this cutting-edge event, IT:U ’s Founding Labs presents five groundbreaking projects developed by six exceptional students from across the globe, representing the university’s mission to tackle pressing societal challenges through digital technology.

Prof. Stefanie Lindstaedt, Founding President of IT:U, said that the new Technical University, IT:U, is showcasing five outstanding interdisciplinary projects by six international students at the Ars Exhibition. She also mentioned that the projects are a response to questions that are part of our everyday lives.

“We are showing five outstanding interdisciplinary projects done by six international students who are part of the first IT:U/Ars FOUNDING Lab – an interdisciplinary, project-based research environment at the new IT:U. The solutions presented in the exhibition deal with questions that are part of our lives: how can participation of people with disabilities look like, how do we imagine the care of the future, how can dreams be relived, what does data transparency bring to the monitoring of one’s own health and how critical should we be with generated data. The 5 projects provide innovative, interdisciplinary solutions using artificial intelligence media, which we present in the exhibition”.
Prof. Stefanie Lindstaedt, Founding President of IT:U

The five projects being showcased at Ars Electronica exemplify the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, focusing on some of today’s most complex issues. From health monitoring powered by machine learning to exploring new virtual reality (VR) experiences for people with disabilities, these projects demonstrate how innovative technology can transform lives:

Inclusive Assistive VR Technologies Puneet Jain (IN): This project allows individuals with disabilities to engage in virtual environments using mouth-controlled gestures, pushing the boundaries of current VR capabilities and offering new forms of interaction.
AI Health Monitoring Amanda Bennetts (AU) and Johanna Einsiedler (AUT): Leveraging the power of AI and data transparency, this project reimagines how personal health can be tracked and managed, raising important questions about data privacy and control.
Re-living Dreams with VR Pinyao Liu (CN): By combining the latest in VR technology, participants can re-experience their dreams, blurring the line between the subconscious and waking life and offering new insights into our inner worlds.
AI and Historical Texts Nathan Cornish (GB): This unique project pairs AI-generated botanical images with historical texts to reveal surprising parallels and foster deep reflections on our cultural heritage.
The Future of Caregiving Julie-Michèle Morin (CA): As automation and robotics enter the care sector, this project challenges societal norms and explores the ethical implications of how technology is transforming human caregiving.

These five projects were developed in IT:U’s Founding Labs, a unique interdisciplinary, project-based research environment designed to foster collaboration across diverse fields.

More information about IT:U ’s projects at Ars Electronica Festival 2024

Panel Discussion and Conference: IT:U FOUNDING LAB Day

As part of the Ars Electronica Festival, IT:U will also host a half-day Founding Lab Day Conference under the theme “Open Research & Education” on Wednesday, September 4th, exploring the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. This panel brings together leading experts from around the world to discuss innovative, project-based learning models and their application in university education.

“We bring together leading experts from international universities to discuss innovative approaches in project-oriented and interdisciplinary university teaching. Especially in connection with our newly launched PhD program “Digital Transformation in Learning”, we look forward to learning from international colleagues and contributing to the professional discourse with our innovative teaching approach”.
Prof. Stefanie Lindstaedt, Founding President of IT:U

Notably, Joanna Bryson, Professor of Ethics and Technology at the Hertie School Berlin, will deliver the keynote speech, addressing the ethical implications of AI on society. The conference will also feature Get Inspired Talks, a series of TED-like presentations offering practical insights into the future of interdisciplinary teaching and learning.

Featured speakers include:

Andreas Ingerl (Germany), Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin
Carla Barreiros (Portugal), IT:U – Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria
Ken Nakagaki (Japan), University of Chicago
Qian Ye (Singapore), National University of Singapore
Nikoletta Karastathi (UK), The Bartlett School of Architecture
Georg Russegger (Austria), Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft
Laura Veart (UK), University of Birmingham

These experts, hailing from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, will share their insights on the intersection of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and innovative education. Through these dialogues, IT:U aims to contribute to the global discourse on the future of education while demonstrating the potential of interdisciplinary and digital innovation.