VASSILIS CHARISSIS

Dr Vassilis Charissis is a Professor of Creative Technologies at Edinburgh Napier University since March 2023. Previously he was a Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at Glasgow Caledonian University, director and founder of the Virtual Reality and Simulation Laboratory (VRS Lab), Virtual Reality Driving Simulation Laboratory VRDS (Lab) and Research Leader of the Visual Affective and Pervasive Research Group (VAPS) and Emerging Interaction Technologies (EIT) research group.

 

He holds a BSc (Hons) in Technology of Graphics Arts and Mechanical Engineering, from the Athens University of Applied Sciences, Greece, an MPhil in Computing - Advanced 2D/3D Motion Graphics and Virtual Prototyping and a PhD in Computing in the area of Human Machine Interfaces and automotive Head-Up - Display systems, the latter two from the University of Glasgow, UK.

 

His research focuses on developing innovative HCI systems, techniques and principles for challenging engineering and medical problems. His work in the automotive sector has presented novel systems that improve human responses and perception with the use of Augmented Reality, gesture recognition and direct manipulation Head-Up Display interfaces.  He is also the recipient of two international first places for prototype design and engineering in the automotive industry competitions for FIAT and Opel respectively and has been granted two patents in advanced biomimetic automotive engineering for the design and development of a Dynamically Configurable Vehicle (DCV).

 

In his early career in industry, he worked for the Advanced Design Studio of Alfa Romeo in Milan, Italy, and developed advanced technologies and concept vehicles for the FIAT Gruppo companies. At 23 years of age, he was one of the youngest ever members selected to participate in this - invite-only - prestigious team to investigate future vehicular solutions and ideas. Throughout his career, he had developed prototype systems for different automotive industries such as OPEL, Ford US, Suzuki US and the defence sector including companies such as QinetiQ, Thales and Fished Defence Submarines.

 

On his academic role, he transferred successfully the principles, knowledge and techniques of the engineering field into the medical research area, providing and developing from a blank slate Virtual Reality and Simulation systems that support medical training for different levels of complexity of anatomy, pathology and surgical operations. During his research, he has developed systems for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCSEd), NHS Education of Scotland (NES), NHS Deaneries of Scotland, Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) and EU FP7 projects.

Apart from his engineering interests and HMI endeavours, he is fascinated by human evolution and how this could fit into Artificial Intelligence for various electronic systems. Human perception, understanding, situational and spatial awareness are also some of the areas that he investigates and applies in HCI and VR systems.