Dr. Emily A. Keshner
Professor and Chair
Department of Physical Therapy
Temple University

Virtual Vistas: Rehabilitation
Speech Title: Postural Research and Interventions Inform Us About Directions for Virtual Rehabilitation

Dr. Keshner is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. She received her BS in Dance Education from New York University then completed her physical therapy education at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She received a MS in Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and then completed her doctoral degree in Movement Science and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Dr. Keshner’s research interests have evolved from simple analyses of the kinematics of automatic postural reactions to determining how the central nervous system computes the neural and biomechanical components of motion. Her landmark studies on neural control mechanisms of the human head and neck examine frequency and kinematic characteristics in an attempt to distinguish the relative contributions of the neural and biomechanical mechanisms of head stabilization. Dr. Keshner’s research is performed in the Virtual Reality and Postural Orientation Laboratory which was developed for both experimental and clinical testing of postural reactions within a simulated dynamic visual environment. With this environment she can examine compensation and adaptation of postural responses during natural dynamic visual disturbances in healthy individuals and in patients with neurologic disorders.

Dr. Yoshihiko Nakamura
Associate Professor
Department of Mechano-Informatics
University of Tokyo

Virtual Vistas: Robotics
Speech Title: From Motion Capturing to Digital Human Modeling

Yoshihiko NAKAMURA is a professor at Department of Mechano-Informatics, the University of Tokyo. His research stems from the foundation of kinematics, dynamics, and control. Humanoid robotics, cognitive robotics, neuromusculoskeletal human model, biomedical systems, and their computational algorithms are the current fields of research. Dr. Nakamura serves as the Vice President of International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM), and the Chairman of the Japan Council of IFToMM. Dr. Nakamura is a Foreign Member of Academy of Engineering Science of Serbia, and a Fellow of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, of the Robotics Society of Japan, and of the World Academy of Art and Science.

 

Dr. Kim Vincs
Associate Professor
Director, Deakin Motion Lab
Deakin University, Australia

 

Virtual Vistas: Dance and Interactive Media
Speech Title: Capturing Dance: Using Motion Capture Analysis to Enhance Dance Creation and Performance

Dr Vincs is an associate professor in dance and Director of the Deakin Motion.Lab. Her research interests are in the areas of motion capture, dance and interactive technology. Her most recent work is in the development of new methods for analysing choreographic ‘signatures’ of dance artists using motion capture, and the creation of real-time dance/motion capture performances that use motion capture technology to amplify and visualize movement patterns inherent in specific choreographic works. Kim also teaches motion capture at Deakin University and directs for commercial motion capture projects. She was awarded two national Australian Council of Teaching and Learning awards in 2006 for her work in dance and motion capture.

 

Dr. Robert Siston
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Ohio State University

 

Virtual Vistas: Surgery
Speech Title: Computer-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty

Dr. Robert Siston is an assistant professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and (by courtesy) Orthopaedics at The Ohio State University. He returned to Ohio State (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2000) from Stanford University, where he completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (2005). He directs the Ohio State Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory where the goal of his research is to provide a scientific basis for the treatment of human movement disorders. To reach this goal, he works with his students and collaborators to apply a combination of computational and novel experimental approaches in order to improve the functional outcomes of clinical and surgical interventions. In 2005, he was awarded the Clinical Biomechanics Award by the American Society of Biomechanics for his early efforts in this area.

Pascale Rondot
Human Immersive Lab Lead
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

 

Virtual Vistas: Industrial Design
Speech Title: Benefits of a Collaborative Immersive Engineering Environment

Pascale Rondot leads the Human Immersive Lab at Lockheed Aeronautics, Fort Worth. She has developed her expertise in Virtual Reality, Motion Capture, Teleoperation, Telepresence and Haptic while working at Lockheed Martin, GE Global Research and the Research Institute of Hydro-Quebec. Rondot received her B.Sc.A. degree in mechanical engineering in 1993 from Laval University in Quebec, Canada and her M.Sc.A degree in industrial engineering - Human Factors in 1995 from the University of Montreal. She is the author of 14 publications, one granted and three pending patents.