Shaping the Future with AI: VINCI Leads the Way at SFU

Simon Fraser University’s newly established Visual & Interactive Computing Institute (VINCI) made a significant impact with its inaugural public event, Shaping the Future with AI: Innovations in Visual & Interactive Computing, held on November 26, 2024. Attracting around 250 attendees, including students, faculty, staff, industry professionals, community partners, and alumni, the event showcased VINCI’s role in advancing AI research and fostering innovation.

VINCI was created to position SFU as a global leader in visual and interactive computing research. It unites over 40 faculty researchers from 14 departments across seven faculties with a vision to strengthen SFU’s research presence both nationally and internationally, engage with local industry and community, and promote computing technologies that deliver societal benefits while addressing potential harms. The institute supports groundbreaking research in areas such as visual and interactive computing, artificial intelligence, and related fields, while also training graduate students with cutting-edge skills. VINCI also bridges academia and industry through a robust “research networking” infrastructure that facilitates collaboration and innovation.

The institute’s research spans a range of focus areas. In visual computing, efforts include advancements in computer vision, graphics, AR/VR, and machine learning. Interactive computing projects delve into human-computer interaction, user-centered design, and visualization. Domain-specific applications cover diverse fields like health, education, business, and history, while another focus is on addressing societal issues related to the ethics, governance, and policy implications of technology. In its first year, VINCI members collectively published over 114 research papers in top-tier venues, received 11 major national and international awards, and played leadership roles in organizing international conferences and workshops.

Held at SFU’s Harbour Centre, the first public VINCI event opened with remarks from SFU’s Vice-President, Research and International, Dugan O’Neil, and VINCI co-directors Parmit Chilana and Manolis Savva. The main program featured a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Nick Vincent, Assistant Professor of Computing Science at SFU, with distinguished panelists including Eniko Rozsa, Distinguished Engineer and CTO for IBM Consulting’s Global AI & Analytics Practice; Steve DiPaola, Professor and Graduate Program Chair of SFU Interactive Arts & Technology; Richard (Hao) Zhang, Distinguished Professor of Computing Science at SFU and Amazon Scholar; and Greg Mori, Vice-President at RBC Borealis and Adjunct Professor at SFU Computing Science. The panelists explored the transformative power of AI, delving into its potential to revolutionize visual and interactive computing by enhancing human-computer interaction, driving innovations in machine learning and embodied interaction, and addressing critical societal challenges through ethical and impactful applications.

Complementing the discussion was a presentation from SFU's Big Data Hub, and a vibrant student research poster session, showcasing cutting-edge publications appearing at renowned venues such as ECCV, ICCV, CVPR, SIGGRAPH, CHI, InfoVis, UIST, IUI, and WWW. This session facilitated valuable connections between SFU students, faculty, alumni, and industry practitioners, emphasizing VINCI’s commitment to collaboration and innovation.

Looking ahead, VINCI is set to drive further advancements through upcoming workshops and regular seminars on visual computing, AI, and human-computer interaction, as well as interdisciplinary projects and larger collaborative initiatives. Its focus on building bridges between academia and industry ensures SFU remains at the forefront of global AI research and its real-world applications. 

The event not only highlighted VINCI’s achievements but also its dedication to leveraging AI and computing research for the common good. By shaping the future responsibly, VINCI is establishing itself as a model of innovation and collaboration in academia and beyond.

For more information, visit: vinci.sfu.ca