Conference: Augmented Reality: Ethics, Perception, Metaphysics

Augmented Reality (AR) technology allows us to see the world around us and experience virtual objects overlaid, or inserted into, our field of view. Today, you can see what a new sofa would look like in your sitting room using your phone and you can experience virtual art works in galleries. Future AR technology will likely involve people wearing special glasses, contact lenses or implants, and we can identify possible uses of the technology based on its present and likely future capabilities.

At this conference we will examine the nature of the experiences had using AR; the nature of the virtual objects we seem to be aware of using AR; the ethical issues surrounding AR; and, finally, examine and refine the guidelines for its ethical use that we have drawn up.

The conference is the culmination of our Royal Society of Edinburgh research network grant. To date, we have held a series of online workshops between January 2022 and October 2023 exploring these issues. You can watch all these workshops online.

In this conference we will build on the expertise built up during the online workshop. In contrast to those which were online only, this conference will be in-person only.

Registration to attend the in-person (only) conference sessions is free and open, however advance registration for the conference is required. Please register here.

Confirmed Speakers include: 

•   Dr Julia Williamson
•   Prof Katalin Farkas
•   Dr Nathan Wildman
•   Dr Chris Mills
•   Prof Christoper Bartels
•   Dr Sarah Lehman
•   Chris Yiu
•   Dr Lavinia Hirsu + Dr Gabriella Rodolico
•   Prof Melissa Terras

Talks will be 50 minutes including time for Q&A discussion.

The conference is run and hosted by the Centre for the Study of Perceptual Experience, University of Glasgow with the generous support of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.