Empathic AI and XR for Ergonomic Education

EMPAIRED aims to transform ergonomic education by making it more inclusive through Algho, an AI-powered virtual human equipped with voice interaction and emotion recognition capabilities.

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The project

EMPAIRED has been selected as one of the winners of the MASTER XR Open Call 2, running from late September for nine months.

The goal is to design a VR experience that transforms ergonomic education in the industrial sector, making it more engaging and truly inclusive through the use of the Algho digital assistant.

The idea is born from a consortium uniting academic, technological, and industrial expertise to drive interdisciplinary innovation in XR.

Realization Phases

The digital human, Algho, will be integrated into the VR scene built into the Ergon-XR framework, funded under MASTER XR Open Call 1, and featuring a dashboard for real-time ergonomic risk evaluation.

The consortium will develop a comprehensive educational methodology and a toolkit for evaluating the training process. They will serve as the foundation for creating an effective VR experience.

A pilot study with 60 students from advanced industrial design courses will evaluate user experience and system usability. Knowledge assessments will provide feedback on learning outcomes and effectiveness.

Definition of training
modules and design
of course content

Implementation
of the 3D scenarios
for the educational content

Integration of
the digital avatar Algho
into the educational scene

On-site pilot with
60 students from
industrial design courses

Evaluation of the UX,
learning outcomes, and
effectiveness

Objectives

Contibute to advancing reserach in human computer interaction, affecting computing and XR-based pedagogy

Proposing a novel XR/AI training framework that integrates real-time analysis with adapting AI coaching

Improve ergonomic learning and teaching through AI-driven personalized training, and progress monitoring.

EMPAIRED represents a step forward toward a more meaningful educational experience, where learning adapts to individual needs.


Related Initiatives

XRehab: Extended Reality for Neurological Rehabilitation

An application for patients with neurological diseases was developed to support rehabilitation through two types of experiences: one focused on exploring natural environments to enhance positive emotions, and another designed to stimulate upper limb movement.

More information at https://www.deepreality.it/cortex/.

XR2Learn: Education and Learning Enhancement through eXtended Reality

The project involved the design, implementation, and validation of two eXtended Reality applications in profoundly different educational contexts—IoT-based smart agriculture and corporate onboarding—to demonstrate the scalability and versatility of the technology.

More information at https://www.deepreality.it/xr2leran/.

CulturAccess: smart guide for a personalized and inclusive cultural experience

Moebeus embedded an AI assistant into an autonomous robot that revolutionizes the user experience in museums. The autonomous and conversational solution customizes cultural information, improving accessibility and inclusivity for every visitor. An innovative phygital solution.

ECHO: Conversational Artificial Intelligence to improve Accessibility of digital services

ECHO experiments with AI-based solutions, conversational interfaces, and 3D avatars to make digital services accessible for deaf people, co-designing and training the AI to communicate in Italian Sign Language.

More information at https://scfablab.unisi.it/2022/09/06/echo/.

GNAM: Transforming corporate museums into Living Lab for sustainable participatory innovation of the food systems

The project transforms corporate food museums into Living Labs to co-create, test, and validate innovations with consumers, producers, and experts, fostering collaboration in technology transfer, education, innovation, and communication for sustainable nutrition.

More information at https://scfablab.unisi.it/2024/10/01/gnam/.

BEAUCOUP: Building Active User Experiences to Bring Culture to the People

BeauCoup is a co-design project making cultural heritage accessible to older people with disabilities, developing integrated physical and digital tools for multisensory, inclusive experiences beyond museum walls.

More information at https://scfablab.unisi.it/2023/12/07/starhaus/.

STARHAUS: Sustainable, Technological, Accessible and Resilient human-centric manufacturing supporting the New European Bauhaus through synergies between customized production and consumption models

Inspired by the New European Bauhaus, the project promotes regenerative design and participatory, human-centered collaboration between experts, artists, and technologists to transform FMCG through conscious consumption, reuse, and reduced environmental impact.

More information at https://scfablab.unisi.it/2022/08/18/beaucoup/.

Team

UniSiena.png

The University of Siena combines R&D and training expertise, applying co-design and design thinking to develop innovative tools and AI-powered services. As Santa Chiara Fab Lab we offer tailored training in digital fabrication and design. The university ensures coordination, partner collaboration, piloting, and dissemination across national and international projects.

DeepReality develops advanced immersive solutions that merge VR, AR, and AI technologies to enhance training, rehabilitation, and entertainment. Its multidisciplinary team transforms complex ideas into interactive, high-fidelity digital environments that boost innovation, safety, engagement, and operational performance across professional and educational contexts.

Moebeus is an Italian startup and Benefit Company. It creates a positive impact on people and organizations, promoting ethics and sustainability. It guides companies in growing their skills. With an innovative training experience, it supports the development of regenerative business models. It integrates Artificial Intelligence into processes and experiential learning environments.

News & Events

Stay informed about the latest developments, project milestones, and opportunities to engage with EMPAIRED. From partner meetings and public events to research highlights and pilot updates — all news and announcements will be shared here.

Contacts

Coordinator: University of Siena, Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences

Address: Via Roma, 56, 53100 Siena, Italy

marti@unisi.it