Dear NU Community!
NU's PhD Program in Robotics Engineering is delighted to invite you to the PhD Thesis Defense:
Candidate: Zhanat Makhataeva, 4th year PhD student.
Thesis Title: Augmented Reality-Based Human Memory Enhancement Using Artificial Intelligence
Lead Supervisor: Prof. Huseyin Atakan Varol, Dept. of Robotics Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, NU, Kazakhstan.
Co-Supervisor: Prof. Anara Sandygulova, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, NU, Kazakhstan.
External Co-Supervisors: Prof. Erdem Erdemir, Tennessee State University, USA
Chair-Internal Examiner: Prof. Michele Folgheraiter, Dept. of Robotics Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, NU, Kazakhstan.
Internal Examiner: Prof. Matteo Rubagotti, Dept. of Robotics Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, NU, Kazakhstan.
External Examiner: Dr. Juan Antonio Corrales Ramón, University of Santiago de Compostela and CiTIUS laboratory, Spain.
Lead supervisor Examiner: Prof. Huseyin Atakan Varol, Dept. of Robotics Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, NU, Kazakhstan.
Abstract:
In the first part of the thesis, I provided an overview of current trends in AR and AI, analyzed mechanisms underlying human memory, considered basic principles of cognitive load, and investigated the theory of cognitive maps and spatial object location memory. Further, I discussed the state-of-the-art AR-enhanced applications in the research of cognitive assistive systems, memory support systems, navigation frameworks, and decision-making. In the second part of the thesis, I presented an AR and AI-enhanced wearable solution for augmenting human memory. At the core of the memory augmentation system is the construction of an external representation of objects in an AR environment in real time. The system is integrated with CV-based user localization and object recognition frameworks to record the user path and identify object locations. I presented the concept of external representation of object-location memory, its real-time construction, and integration into the real environment as the virtual 3D object in front of the user's eyes. I explored how the cognitive load of human participants changed when they completed an experimental task that required memorization of object locations indoors and pointing on the map the positions of learned objects with and without the assistance of the AR system. The cognitive load of participants was analyzed using subjective and objective evaluation methods. Statistical methods were applied to derive experimental data to analyze the significance of the reported results. I also studied the usability of the proposed human memory augmentation AR system using the usability evaluation tool (i.e., SUS). I studied the correlations between the dependent variables of the study, including error rate, completion time, mental workload, and usability. In conclusion, the proposed solution for augmenting human memory presents a novel way to record, store, and retrieve spatial object location memory.
Date and time: November 23, 2023 (Thursday) at 19.00 Astana time
The defense will be held on Microsoft Teams platform. Please make sure that you have installed it on your computers/devices.
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NzcyOTQwNTMtZTVmNy00YmU3LTg1MjctNmM5Y2RlYTgzZWE0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2221fe413c-53ab-42a9-8f23-64725363c212%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22b5bb6721-b80a-4448-9756-0a1955821c04%22%7d
Contact information: SEDS Academic and Student Affairs Office Phone: +7 (7172) 70-64-23, 70-64-82
