Smoky Mirrors Symposium: Self-Other Actions and Interactions in Real and Virtual Worlds

Note: The in-person event is taking place at TU Darmstadt, Germany (more details below). 

Abstract 

We humans don't exist in isolation but are constantly interacting with other humans and, in modern day times, also more and more with different types of technology. In this symposium we will take an overarching look at the similarity and differences for human-human interactions and human-machine interactions (be it real or in VR), with the particular focus on movement. The speakers in this symposium draw from a range of different expertises: from psychology focussing on human-human interactions, to engineering that specializes on human-machine interactions.

Programme

All times in the schedule below are in Central European Time (CET / UTC+1)

Welcome: 9:45-10:00

Talk 1 (10:00–11:00): Juan Avendano (Aalto University)
Talk 2 (11:00–12:00): Helge Gillmeister (University of Essex)

Lunch (12:00–13:30)

Talk 3 (13:30–14:30): Loes van Dam (TU Darmstadt)
Talk 4 (14:30–15:30): Georgia Chalvatzaki (TU Darmstadt)

Break (15:30–16:00)

Talk 5 (16:00–16:30): Anna Ciaunica & Altea Vanni (ULisboa)
Talk 6 (16:30–17:30): Amir Jahanian Najafabadi (Bielefeld University)

Panel Discussion (17:30–18:00)

Registration

Registration is free. Please indicate whether you would prefer to attend the event in person or remotely. As in-person attendance is limited by the venue’s capacity, we encourage early registration. We will do our best to accommodate all participants wishing to join on site; however, if demand exceeds capacity, places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Snacks will be provided. Lunch and dinner are not covered.

The registration deadline for in-person attendance is Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, at 17:00.

Venue

TU Darmstadt: Building S3|20 Room 18 (Friedrich-Ludwig-Weidig-Saal)

Rundeturmstraße 10

64283 Darmstadt, Germany

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact Loes van Dam (Technische Universität Darmstadt) at: loes.van_dam@tu-darmstadt.de

Organisers

Loes van Dam (Technische Universität Darmstadt)

Juan Avendano (Aalto University)

Anna Ciaunica (Universidade de Lisboa)

This symposium is funded by the Unite! Seed Fund Research Grant for the project “Smoky Mirrors: Self–Other Mirroring in Real and Virtual Worlds”, awarded to Loes van Dam (Technische Universität Darmstadt), Anna Ciaunica (Universidade de Lisboa), and Juan Avendano (Aalto University).