Smoky Mirrors Symposium: Self-Other Actions and Interactions in Real and Virtual Worlds
When
Where
Event language(s)
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
10:00–11:00: Juan Avendano (Aalto University)
“Social Connection: From Biosignal Sharing and Dance Improvisation to Smoky Mirrors”
11:00–12:00: Helge Gillmeister (University of Essex)
“There is a stranger in my mirror!” What mirror gazing studies can tell us about the
(de-)construction of the self”
12:00–13:30: Lunch
13:30–14:30: Loes van Dam (TU Darmstadt)
“Visuomotor delays, motor control and the senses of ownership and agency”
14:30–15:30: Georgia Chalvatzaki (TU Darmstadt)
“On the quest for robotic embodied intelligence: Robots that understand, adapt,
and collaborate with us”
15:30–16:00: Break
16:00–16:30: Anna Ciaunica & Altea Vanni (ULisboa)
“(Dis)Embodied Joint Agency in Human/ Virtual Agents Interactions”
16:30–17:30: Amir Jahanian Najafabadi (Bielefeld University)
“Extending Perception: Tool-use and the Interplay of Body, Space, and Time.”
17:30–18:00: Panel Discussion
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).
