In January 2017, Ouest Industries Créatives launched two calls for research projects: Start-up and Thesis/Post-Doctoral. Its focus was interdisciplinary, scientific research projects to develop new fields of expertise at the intersection of the creative disciplines, human and social sciences, digital sciences and/or architecture.
Both calls were addressed to RFI Ouest Industries Créatives* partner institutions and have provided funding to 5 regional research projects (funding allocated through the Pays de la Loire regional authorities).
Ph-IDEA (a PhD on Immersive Data Exploration and Analysis)
PH-IDEA studies technologies, visual representations, interactive techniques and techniques for evaluating abstract data, in an immersive HMD environment (virtual reality headsets).
It comes under the auspices of the IDEA project which was initiated jointly by LS2N (Laboratoire des Sciences du Numérique de Nantes) and READI Design Lab (École de Design Nantes Atlantique) in 2016 through a RFI OIC – funded start-up project. The project is led by Yannick Prié (Professor of Computer Science at Université de Nantes / LS2N), with contributions from Grégoire Cliquet (Director, READI Design Lab) and Fabien Picarougne (Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Université de Nantes / LS2N).
RFI is also co-funding a doctoral thesis with the Université de Nantes (beginning September 2017).
PREDICT (Project researching and evaluating cultural and touristic interactive technology)
West Creative Industries – Predict
This three-year research project proposes a multidisciplinary approach to observing and evaluating digital technology for cultural and touristic mediation: touchscreens, mobile apps, augmented reality, interactive street furniture, etc.
It is led by Élodie Jarrier, Senior Lecturer in Management Science at the Université d’Angers, and a member of GRANEM (Groupe de Recherche Angevin en Économie et Management) and Olivier Hu, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the same institution, and member of LERIA (Laboratoire d’Études et de Recherche en Informaque d’Angers).
RFI OIC’s support, through its joint funding of the RFI Angers TourismLab, comes in the form of partial funding of a post-doctoral thesis (post-doctorate begins autumn 2017).
VESPACE (Virtual Early-modern Spectacles & Publics, Active Collaborative Environment)
With co-funding from RFI OIC, this thesis involves broad cooperation between international researchers in human sciences and digital sciences. The objective of VESPACE is to explore possibilities for developing a virtual recreation of a 13th-Century theatre in Paris during a busy mediaeval fair. It is already possible to model theatres in 3-D, but this project will study and create techniques for audience immersion and interaction.
VESPACE is led by Françoise Rubellin, Professor of French Literature at the Université de Nantes, and member of AMO (l’Antique, le Moderne) and Florent Laroche, Senior Lecturer in Engineering Sciences at the École Centrale de Nantes, and member of LS2N (Laboratoire des Sciences du Numérique de Nantes).
RFI is also co-funding a doctoral thesis with the École Centrale de Nantes (beginning 2017 or 2018).
ROB’AUTISME
Rob’Autisme explores an innovative approach to working with autistic children and teenagers – the robot “extension”, whereby young people programme a robot so that they can express themselves and interact in their surroundings. This approach to artistic mediation enables young people with ASD to interact in spaces where it is often very difficult for them to take part due to the need for communication, cooperation and socialisation. The thesis will evaluate the merits of this approach with the aim of systematising it as a means of therapeutic support for people with ASD.
The project is led by Sophie Sakka, Senior Lecturer in Robotics at the École Centrale de Nantes, and member of LS2N (Laboratoire des Sciences du Numérique de Nantes).
RFI is also co-funding a doctoral thesis with the École Centrale de Nantes (beginning September 2017).
EMOTIVE VR
The Emotive VR arts and sciences project has set itself the challenge of developing a prototype of a neuro-interactive film with two innovative functions: immersion in an omni-directional virtual reality film and the use of EEG sensors to assess the spectator’s experience.
The creative and artistic research is led by Marie-Laure Cazin, Lecturer at ESBA-TALM (École supérieure des Beaux-Arts Tours Angers Le Mans) in Le Mans. The computer science project is led by Toinon Vigier, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Université de Nantes and member of LS2N.
* The three regional universities, ENSA Nantes, Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique, ESBA-TALM, Ecole Centrale de Nantes, Audencia Business and SciencesCom.
** RFI Ouest Industries Créatives receives funding from the Pays de la Loire regional authorities and the ERDF.