Robotics meetings & conferences

2nd International Conference on Global Telehealth - GT2012

“Delivering Quality Healthcare Anywhere Through Telehealth”

25 - 28, 2012 November Sydney, Australia

Following on from the success of Global Telehealth 2010, the Australasian Telehealth Society is pleased to announce Global Telehealth 2012, an international scientific meeting covering the full breadth of Telehealth with tutorial sessions, peer reviewed paper presentations on current topics of interest, and a range of invited international experts as keynote speakers.

The 2nd International Conference on Global Telehealth will held 26-28 November 2012 in Sydney, Australia.

More Information: http://www.aths.org.au/GT2012/

Special Session on Challenges in Neuroengineering at the International Conference on Neural Computation Theory and Applications - NCTA 2012

05 - 07 October, 2012 - Barcelona, Spain

In conjunction with the International Conference on Neural Computation Theory and Applications - NCTA 2012

Neuroengineering is a discipline within biomedical engineering. This interdisciplinary approach combines principles from machine learning, signal processing theory, and computational neuroscience applied to problems in basic and clinical neuroscience.

The ultimate goal of neuroengineering is a technological revolution, where machines would interact in real-time with the brain. Machines and brains could interface, enabling normal function in cases of injury or disease, brain monitoring and/or medical rehabilitation of brain disorders.

Much current research in neuroengineering is focused on understanding the coding and processing of information in the sensory and motor systems, quantifying how this processing is altered in the pathological state, and how it can be manipulated through interactions with artificial devices including brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics.

Our brains are buzzing with electrical activity moving in and out of neural cells, sending electrical impulses along their axons, and exchanging chemical messages. Neural signals allow us to observe neuronal activity in real time.

Our topics cover all imaging or neural signal techniques (cellular-level recording, EEG, MRI/fMRI, PET, fNIRS, chemical or optical recording, etc.) of neuroengineering such as, but not limited to:

- computational neuroscience
- experimental neuroscience
- clinical neurology
- electrical engineering and signal processing of living neural tissue
- robotics and cybernetics
- neural tissue engineering
- materials science, and nanotechnology.

Secretariat Contacts
NCTA Special Sessions - SSCN 2012
e-mail: ncta.secretariat@insticc.org

Speech and Multimodal Interaction in Assistive Environments (SMIAE 2012)

The workshop will be held on July, 12th at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Association of Computational Linguistics (ACL 2012), Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, July 8-14, 2012

SMIAE is sponsored by the ACL Special Interest Group on Speech and Language Processing for Assistive Technologies (SIG-SLPAT)

In recent years considerable progress has been made in speech processing and interaction as well as in multimodality. However, the application field of Assistive Environments has only recently become a focus for the speech and multimodality research community.

This workshop will focus on issues, applications, and development tools in the field of Speech and Multimodal Interaction in Assistive Environments (SMIAE). It will be concerned with all topics which fit within the purview of speech and multimodal communication in environments suitable for the elderly and people with age-related physical or cognitive disabilities. Assistive environments are an application area of the research field of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL).

This research field is supported through a European technology and innovation funding programme, which promotes intelligent assistant systems for a better, healthier, and safer life in the preferred living environments through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Human-computer and human-robot interaction are key technological tools in the area of Assistive Environments, and as such the workshop will particularly aim to draw together speech and multimodal work in these areas. Moreover, both theoretical and applied computational work regarding multimodal interaction in assistive environments will be welcome at this workshop.

Topics of Interest

Speech-enabled systems in assisted living environments
Speech in interaction with gesture and other modalities in assistive environments
Speech and multimodality in assistive robotics
Control of smart devices through speech and multimodal approaches
Speech/Text-to Speech software in Web applications designed for the elderly
Speech and multimodal interaction in e-Government and e-Health in assistive environments
Communication in assistive environments (e.g. Peer-to-Peer)
Talking agents in assistive environments
Multimodal ICT used in elder care

Invited speaker:
Mikio Nagano: "Robots that can learn new words and their grounded meanings through dialogues"

Contact

For any questions, feedback or comments, feel free to contact the organization committee:

e-mail: smiae2012@informatik.uni-bremen.de
Tel: 0049-163-7435527

5th Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics

The 5th Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics will be held on 1st and 2nd of July at the Royal Geographical Society, South Kensington London, England.

Topics to be addressed by the symposium include, but are not limited to:

Clinical highlights in Urology, Cardiac Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Gynaecology, ENT, Orthopaedic, and Paediatric Surgery
Flexible Robotics
Emerging, multi-specialty applications of robotic technology
Medical robotics for NOTES
Mechatronic designs for medical robotics
Microbot design and applications
Surgical simulation, training and skills assessment
Human robot interaction and ergonomics
Surgical navigation and augmented reality systems
Intra-operative imaging and biophotonics for robotic surgery
Medical image computing and computer assisted intervention
Economic and general consideration of robotic surgery

General Enquiries
info@hamlyn-robotics.org

1st International Workshop on Intelligent Multimodal Interfaces Applied in Skills Transfer, Healthcare and Rehabilitation (IMIASH 2012)

In conjunction with The 8th International Conference on Intelligent Environments - IE 12

Guanajuato, Mexico. June 26-29, 2012

The first International Workshop on Intelligent Multimodal Interfaces applied in skills transfer and healthcare and rehabilitation, co-located with the 8th International Conference on Intelligent Environments (IE 12) aims to bring together researches, developers and practitioners involved in the research area of machine learning, bio-signals processing, electronics, robotics, mechatronics, virtual & augmented reality, medicine and rehabilitation.

Nowadays, multimodal interfaces have changed and revolutionized the way that people communicate, interact and learn. Undoubtedly, we are living in an age where these technological improvements have increased the human potential at levels that have not been seen before. Day by day, thanks to the science and technology, we are able to see how the fiction is converted into reality and how the multimodal interfaces are naturally integrated in the current life. This strong integration between humans and technology represents an incredible opportunity to investigate the human behavior through this interaction and analyze all the potentialities and advantages when the multimodal interfaces are used in the field of skills transfer, healthcare and rehabilitation.

IMIASH 2012 has two main tracks:

Track I: Multimodal Interfaces applied in Skills Transfer

The use of new technologies has dramatically transformed the conventional methodologies in which humans learn. This track is focused in the human behavior of learning process in which motor skills activities are transmitted from intelligent multimodal interfaces to human beings. The research is focused to investigate how these learning processes could be applied using intelligent multimodal systems and virtual environments to transfer knowledge associated to human motor skills. Skills transfer is a trend in the scientific and technological development fields, which focuses on developing systems that can help the users (human beings) to learn different kinds of tasks. These systems are designed to deal with the acquisition, interpretation, storing and transfer of human skills by means of multimodal interfaces, Robotics, Haptics and Virtual Environments (VE) technologies. It also adopts cognitive sciences and interaction design methodologies in order to obtain a digital representation of the skills and to develop techniques for its capturing and rendering.

Track II: Multimodal Interfaces applied in healthcare and rehabilitation

Nowadays the multimodal interfaces in healthcare have been changing and improving the quality of life of the people, principally of handicapped people. Therefore, this track is focused in the design of multimodal systems that improves and accelerates the rehabilitation process of the patients through the use of robotic and electronic devices capable to help the users to carry out different routines in an accurate way.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Brain Computer Interfaces
Haptics
Robotics
Rehabilitation
Skills Transfer
Multimodal Platforms
Artificial Intelligence
Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality
Computer Vision
Data Mining
Machine Learning Applications

If you have any inquiry, please, contact with Oscar Osvaldo Sandoval-Gonzalez at oscar [at] sandoval-gonzalez [dot] com

MICCAI 2012, the 15th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention

MICCAI 2012, the 15th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention, will be held from October 1st to October 5th 2012 in Nice, France.

MICCAI attracts annually world leading scientists, engineers and clinicians from a wide range of disciplines associated with medical imaging and computer assisted surgery.

The venue for MICCAI 2012 is the Acropolis Convention Centre. It is located just 15 minutes from the airport, in the heart of the largest city of the French Riviera.

Topics
Topics to be addressed in MICCAI 2012 include, but are not limited to:

General Medical Image Computing
Computer Assisted Interventional Systems and Robotics
Visualisation and Interaction
General Biological and Neuroscience Image Computing
Computational Anatomy (statistics on anatomy)
Computational Physiology (virtual organs)
Innovative Clinical / Biological Applications and Surgical Procedures

IEEE BioRob 2012 IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics

June 24-28, 2012 Roma, Italy

Sponsored by IEEE Robotics and Automation Society & IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society

The fourth IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics - BioRob 2012 - is a joint effort of the two IEEE Societies of Robotics and Automation - RAS - and Engineering in Medicine and Biology - EMBS.

BioRob covers both theoretical and experimental challenges posed by the application of robotics and mechatronics in medicine and biology. The primary focus of Biorobotics is to analyze biological systems from a "biomechatronic" point of view, trying to understand the scientific and engineering principles underlying their extraordinary performance. This profound understanding of how biological systems work, behave and interact can be used for two main objectives: to guide the design and fabrication of novel, high performance bio-inspired machines and systems, for many different applications; and to develop novel nano, micro-, macro- devices that can act upon, substitute parts of, and assist human beings in prevention, diagnosis, surgery, prosthetics, rehabilitation and personal assistance

The technical program of IEEE BioRob2012 will consist of invited talks, special sessions, posters, and paper presentations.

Possible topics:

Technology for assisted surgery and diagnosis
Rehabilitation and assistive robotics
Micro/nano technologies in medicine and biology
Prosthetic devices
Wearable assistive and augmenting devices
Biological systems modeling

Biologically-inspired systems
Biomechatronic and human-centreddesign
Human-machine interaction
Locomotion and manipulation in robots and biological systems
Neuro-robotics
Technology Assessment, Ethical and Social Implications of Biorobotics and Biomechatronics

Symposium on Surgical Robotics (June 24, 2012 – June 25, 2012): As part of the BioRob 2012 program, there will also be a two-day single track Symposium on Surgical Robotics with a dinner banquet on June 24th, 2012. The Symposium will comprise of invited speakers, regular paper presentations and poster session(s), and will be held at the same venue as BioRob 2012.

Venue: The venue for the conference is downtown Rome, one of the most beautiful cities in the world where art meets with history and progress. Rome is easily accessible from all over the world by two International airports (Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino and Ciampino), high-speed railway and highway.

17th Annual CyberPsychology & CyberTherapy Conference (CYBER17)

This year the Interactive Media Institute, in collaboration with the Virtual Reality Medical Institute, is organizing the International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, & Rehabilitation’s (iACToR) 17th Annual CyberPsychology & CyberTherapy Conference (CYBER17), scheduled for September 25-28, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium. We would like to invite you to join us!

The Annual CyberPsychology & CyberTherapy Conference began as a symposium that featured presentations dealing mostly with conceptual matters and future possibilities at the Medicine Meets Virtual Reality Conference. CYBER17 has now grown to a full-scale conference with presentations that demonstrate controlled clinical trials with unique applications of cutting edge technologies that improve the access and increase the quality of healthcare.

CYBER17 will continue to build upon this 17-year legacy, which includes the 2011 conference just completed in Gatineau, Canada, which attracted 200+ participants from 25 countries. Locating this year’s conference in Europe’s capital, Brussels, provides a unique opportunity to raise the conference’s visibility and highlight the importance of technology and healthcare research. Prominent academic representatives from Europe, North America, and Asia will serve as Scientific Chairs and on its Scientific Committee. iACToR’s Secretary General, Professor Brenda K. Wiederhold, who divides her time between the U.S. and Europe (http://iactor.ning.com), will serve as the conference’s chief organizer and host.

CYBER17’s focus is three-fold:

1. The Impact of Technologies as Tools
CYBER17 will continue its examination of the exciting applications of advanced technologies being used in training, therapy, rehabilitation, and education for the improvement of the quality and availability of healthcare for people around the globe.

2. The Influence of New Technologies
CYBER17 will further its investigation into how new technologies are influencing behavior and society through the use of positive technology, healthy ageing, well?being, cyberadvertising, cyberfashion, and cyberstalking to name a few.

3. The Imprint of Social Networking
CYBER17 will embrace, as it did in 2011, the exploration of social networking tools on individual behavior and societal relations.

Encouraged topics include but are not limited to:
• Virtual Environments
• Advanced Interaction Training
• Video-conferencing
• Robotics
• Brain Computer Interfaces
• Cognitive Rehabilitation & Therapy
• Wearable computing
• Non---invasive physiological monitoring devices
• Positive Technology
• Social Networking in Healthcare
• Information Technologies
• Videogames
• Telehealth & Telepresence
• Social implications of Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Neurorehabilitation
• Mobile healthcare
• Cyberbullying
• Health Applications
• Healthy Ageing
• Games for Health
• Serious Games
• Apps for Kids

Because of the international nature of CYBER17 and the expanded focus of its theme, we recognize the importance of extending our invitation to participants around the world interested and dedicated to enhancing public awareness of how technology can overcome obstacles and increase access to top quality healthcare for all citizens.
 

22nd World Congress of the International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists (IASGO 2012)

The 22nd World Congress of the International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists (IASGO 2012), will be held from 5 to 8 December 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Themed "Challenges and Controversies in the Management of Abdominal Diseases: Current Possibility and Future Expectation", the congress will feature 10 main topics including: Upper GI Tract Surgery; Lower GI Tract Surgery; Hepatic Surgery; Biliary Tract Surgery; Pancreatic Surgery; Interventional Chemo-Immuno-Radiotherapy; Laparoscopic Endoscopic Surgery; Multidisciplinary Approaches; Innovation & Advanced Technology, and; Robotic Surgery.

The Congress will feature Pre & Post Congress Workshop (Cadaveric), Keynotes Lectures, Plenary Lectures, Symposium, Live Surgery Demonstration, Clinical Case Presentation & Discussion, Oral & Poster Presentation and inaugural Medical & Surgical Olympic Video Festival Competition.

A trade exhibition is also organized alongside the conference. It will feature leading companies that provide products and services in the field of surgery, gastroenterology and oncology.

Topics

General Surgery
Esophageal, Gastric and Bariatric Surgery
Colorectal, Genito-Urinary and Pelvic Surgery
Hepatic Surgery
Biliary Surgery
Pancreatic Surgery
Laparoscopic, Robotics, Endoscopic Surgery
Oncology
Others

Kenes International
PICO Building, 10 Soi Lasalle 56
Sukhumvit Road, Bangna
Bangkok, 10260
THAILAND
Tel: +66 2 748 7881
Fax: +66 2 748 7880
E-mail: info@iasgo2011.org

9th International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies (ICDVRAT 2012)

Laval, France, 10–12 September 2012

The purpose of the ninth International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies is to provide a forum for international experts and researchers to present and review how advances in the general area of Virtual Reality can be used to assist people with disabilities. This international conference will encompass all aspects of technology used in Virtual Reality systems.

ICDVRAT 2012 follows on from the success of the conference series: Maidenhead, UK (1996); Skövde, Sweden (1998); Alghero, Sardinia (2000); Veszprém, Hungary (2002); Oxford, UK (2004); Esbjerg, Denmark (2006); Maia/Porto, Portugal (2008); and Viña del Mar/Valparaíso, Chile (2010).

Topics:

The following topics are just a few of those that will be relevant to the conference:

Virtual and enhanced environments
Motor rehabilitation
Clinical assessment
Cognitive rehabilitation
Communication and language
Ambisonics and audio environments
Haptic devices
Sensory impairment
Medical systems
Input devices, sensors and actuators
Multi-user systems for user interaction
Computer access
Virtual humans
Balance, posture and mobility
Communications aids
Tools for architectural/CAD design
Product design, testing and prototyping
Training tools for rehabilitation
Augmented reality applications
Human factors
Rehabilitation robotic
ArtAbilitation

Contact info: p.m.sharkey@reading.ac.uk