P.A.C.E. Project Kick-Off Meeting Held in Paris

The P.A.C.E. project officially kicked off on February 5 & 6 in Paris, France, bringing together project partners from across Europe for the first transnational meeting of the consortium. The event marked the beginning of a promising collaboration focused on achieving the project’s shared goals and establishing a strong foundation for the work ahead.

During the two-day meeting, partners introduced their organizations, shared their expertise, and discussed their roles within the project. The University of Patras (UPatras) was represented by members of our lab, who presented the university and highlighted its research experience, ongoing initiatives, and expected contributions to the P.A.C.E. project.

The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for partners to review the project’s objectives, explore the structure of the work packages, and plan the upcoming activities. Through productive discussions and collaborative sessions, the consortium clarified responsibilities, timelines, and coordination mechanisms that will guide the implementation of the project.

Beyond the formal agenda, the kickoff meeting also strengthened the partnership among the participating organizations. The atmosphere was highly collaborative, with all partners expressing great enthusiasm about the launch of the P.A.C.E. project and the opportunities it offers for innovation and impact.

With the project now underway, the consortium looks forward to the next phases of collaboration, the development of new tools and resources, and the meaningful results that will emerge from this international partnership.

PRAISE Project Officially Launched in Nicosia, Cyprus

The PRAISE project officially kicked off on October 27th in Nicosia, Cyprus, bringing together project partners from across Europe to begin an exciting collaborative journey. The meeting marked the start of a shared effort to advance the project’s goals, establish strong cooperation among partners, and set the foundation for the work ahead.

During the kickoff meeting, representatives from all partner organizations had the opportunity to present their institutions, expertise, and planned contributions to the project. The University of Patras (UPatras) was represented by members of our lab, who delivered a presentation introducing the university, its research activities, and its role within the PRAISE project.

The meeting also served as an important platform for discussing the project’s work packages, timelines, and collaboration strategies. Through productive discussions and interactive sessions, partners aligned on the next steps and clarified the responsibilities that will guide the project’s implementation.

All partners expressed great enthusiasm about launching PRAISE and working together over the coming months and years. The kickoff meeting fostered a strong sense of collaboration and shared vision, with everyone excited about the opportunities and impact that the project aims to achieve.

With the project now officially underway, the PRAISE consortium looks forward to the upcoming activities, joint research efforts, and innovative outcomes that will emerge from this international partnership.

🎓 Master Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Patras 🇬🇷

Are you passionate about the intersection of technology and human behavior?
🚀 Take your career to the next level with our MSc in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) – an innovative postgraduate program offered by the University of Patras.
✅ Learn to design intuitive, user-centered digital experiences
✅ Explore UX/UI design, cognitive psychology, usability testing, AR/VR, and more
✅ Ideal for graduates in computer science, design, psychology, or related fields
🌍 Open to international students | 🗓️ Applications now open!
👉 Visit https://hcimaster.upatras.gr to learn more and apply.

Presenting “Evaluating Pedestrian Behavior in Virtual Reality for Traffic Education Using Eye Tracking” in HCII 2025

🚶‍♀️🧠 Thrilled to share our research at HCII 2025 in beautiful Gothenburg, Sweden! 🇸🇪

Our paper, “Evaluating Pedestrian Behavior in Virtual Reality for Traffic Education Using Eye Tracking”, dives into how immersive tech and eye tracking can enhance traffic safety education for pedestrians.

Grateful to be part of a global conversation on innovation in HCI and education! 🌐🎓💡

Presenting “Using Eye Tracking Analysis to Detect Pilot Focus in Drone Interfaces During Signal Loss” in HCII 2025

🚁 Proud to present our latest research at the Human-Computer Interaction International (HCII) 2025 in Gothenburg, Sweden! 🌍

Our paper, “Using Eye Tracking Analysis to Detect Pilot Focus in Drone Interfaces During Signal Loss”, explores how human attention shifts under critical conditions—paving the way for smarter, safer drone systems.

A big thank you to everyone who supported this work—excited for the discussions and collaborations ahead! 🔬👁️💡

Summer School 2025 ☀️

June 16–20, 2025, Software Quality and Human-Computer Interaction (SQHCI) Lab

We’re thrilled to welcome students to Summer School 2025, at the SQHCI Lab! Running from June 16 to 20, this week-long experience is bringing together curious minds to explore the latest in software, interaction design, and intelligent systems.

A Week of Innovation and Exploration

Throughout the week, participants are actively engaging in a wide variety of practical and forward-thinking workshops, including:

  • 🛸 Drone Programming – Students are learning to write code that controls drones in real time.
  • 🎮 Unity Game Development – From concepts to prototypes, they’re building interactive games using the Unity engine.
  • 🌍 Virtual Reality & Virtual Worlds – They’re stepping into immersive environments and learning how to design for user interaction.
  • 🧠 Physiological Sensors – Students are exploring how to use biofeedback to understand user experience and interaction.

Discovering our projects

A highlight of the week is hands-on exposure to two of our lab’s projects:

  • GUESS (Gamified User-centered Environmental Sustainability for University Students): Students are exploring this immersive virtual world designed to enhance environmental sustainability knowledge among university students through a gamified learning environment.
  • SIMOnS (Student Improvement and Monitoring of Online Skills): They’re testing our interactive app for digital skill assessment and improvement of uni students.

Summer School 2025 offers students a rare opportunity to gain real-world experience with advanced tools and research in a collaborative, supportive environment. It’s a space for:

✅ Skill-building in drone coding and Unity development
✅ First-hand interaction with emerging tech and research
✅ Connecting with peers and experts in the field
✅ Seeing the future of human-computer interaction in action

Stay tuned for more!

Follow us on our social media so you won’t miss any updates:
Instagram: software.quality.lab
Facebook: Sqlab Upatras
LinkedIn: Software Quality and Human Computer Interaction (SQLab UPatras) Laboratory

Where Diversity Meets Dialogue: Highlights from the EAU Festival

We are proud to highlight the participation of Xenos Michalis, as member of the Committee for Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination, in the 1st Festival of the Equal Access Unit (EAU) of the University of Patras – The Art of Diversity, held on 27–28 May 2025. This inspiring event celebrated inclusion, equity, and the power of diverse voices in academia and beyond.

Find more about the festival here.

Find the program of the festival here.

SIMOnS project 2nd Newsletter

📢 Exciting Announcement! 📢

We’re thrilled to share the second newsletter of the SIMOnS project!

Dive into the latest updates, milestones, and future plans of the SIMOnS project!
Here are the key points:
🔹The third project’s face to face meeting was held in Finland on April 3rd and 4th!
🔹We now have a TikTok account where all the educational content is uploaded!
🔹The testing of the SIMOnS app is done, providing us with feedback from the participants and key findings!

🔗 https://www.simonsproject.eu

Stay informed and join us on this incredible journey! 🚀

Exploring the GUESS 3D Virtual World: A New Era in Environmental Education 🌍

We are excited to welcome you to the demonstration of the GUESS 3D Virtual World Learning Environment (VWLE) — a groundbreaking educational platform developed to elevate environmental knowledge and awareness among university students.

Created as part of the Erasmus Plus KA2 project, GUESS (Gamified University Environmental Sustainability Skills) offers an innovative approach to learning by combining immersive virtual environments with real-world sustainability challenges. The platform invites students to explore, engage, and reflect on key environmental issues through a fully interactive and gamified experience.

The goal? To empower the next generation of learners with the mindset and tools needed to build a more sustainable future. From understanding ecological systems to evaluating sustainable practices, GUESS transforms traditional education into a dynamic, digital journey.

This demonstration showcases how virtual reality, educational technology, and sustainability can come together to create powerful learning experiences. It’s not just a tool — it’s a movement toward greener thinking and more conscious action.

🌱 Join us as we explore how GUESS is reshaping environmental education for the better.

Μοριοδοτούμενο Εκπαιδευτικό Πρόγραμμα

Εκπαιδευτικό Πρόγραμμα: «Δημιουργία Εκπαιδευτικών Παιγνίων με το Minecraft Education»

Ενημέρωση – Αιτήσεις

Στο ΚΕΔΙΒΙΜ του Πανεπιστήμιου Πατρών, υλοποιείται το νέο Μοριοδοτούμενο Εκπαιδευτικό Πρόγραμμα με τίτλο: «Δημιουργία Εκπαιδευτικών Παιγνίων με το Minecraft Education» !

Ο στόχος του προγράμματος είναι να εκπαιδεύσει τους συμμετέχοντες στη δημιουργία εκπαιδευτικών παιγνίων αξιοποιώντας το Minecraft Education ως εργαλείο μάθησης. Εστιάζει στην ανάπτυξη ψηφιακών δεξιοτήτων, παιδαγωγικών προσεγγίσεων και δημιουργικών σεναρίων για την τάξη. Σκοπός είναι η ενίσχυση της ενεργητικής μάθησης και της εμπλοκής των μαθητών μέσω παιχνιδοποίησης.

Το Πρόγραμμα απευθύνεται σε: Εκπαιδευτικούς Πρωτοβάθμιας και Δευτεροβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης, Φοιτητές (Μεταπτυχιακούς & μη), Προγραμματιστές και σχεδιαστές εκπαιδευτικών παιγνίων, Εκπαιδευτικούς Οργανισμούς και Κέντρα – Φροντιστήρια (δημοσίου και ιδιωτικού δικαίου), Οργανισμούς Εκπαίδευσης και Κατάρτισης (δημοσίου και ιδιωτικού δικαίου), Γονείς και Κηδεμόνες, Gamers και Minecraft Enthusiasts.

Το Πρόγραμμα προσφέρει:

  • Μοριοδότηση για πίνακες ΑΣΕΠ (σύμφωνα με την ισχύουσα νομοθεσία)
  • Εφαρμοσμένες γνώσεις στη δημιουργία εκπαιδευτικών σεναρίων με χρήση του Minecraft Education
  • Πλήρως ασύγχρονη παρακολούθηση – μελέτη στον δικό σου ρυθμό
  • Πιστοποιητικό Επιμόρφωσης από το Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών
  • Υποστήριξη από εξειδικευμένους εκπαιδευτές και πρόσβαση σε πλούσιο εκπαιδευτικό υλικό

Η συνολική διάρκεια του Προγράμματος είναι 400 ωρών, (με έναρξη της 23/06/2025 και λήξη 29/12/2025) το πρόγραμμα περιλαμβάνει διαφάνειες, βίντεο, μελέτες περίπτωσης και πρακτικές ασκήσεις, διασφαλίζοντας μια ολοκληρωμένη μαθησιακή εμπειρία.

Η συμμετοχή των εκπαιδευόμενων στο κόστος* φοίτησης είναι 460 €. Η πληρωμή των τελών φοίτησης γίνεται είτε σε δύο ισόποσες δόσεις, μία πριν την έναρξη του προγράμματος και μία στο μέσο του προγράμματος, είτε με εφάπαξ καταβολή πριν την έναρξη του προγράμματος.

*Το Κ.Ε.ΔΙ.ΒΙ.Μ. του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών, στα πλαίσια της κοινωνικής πολιτικής που εφαρμόζει, προσφέρει έκπτωση επί των τελών συμμετοχής σε ειδικές κατηγορίες εκπαιδευομένων, όπως π.χ. σε προπτυχιακούς/μεταπτυχιακούς φοιτητές και υποψήφιους διδάκτορες του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών, σε ευαίσθητες και ευπαθείς κοινωνικές ομάδες, κλπ. Το κόστος σε αυτήν την περίπτωση διαμορφώνεται στα 390 € (έκπτωση 15%).

✍️ Κάνε την Αίτησή σου Σήμερα: 👉 Υποβολή Αίτησης στο https://kedivim.upatras.gr/…/aitisi-dimiourgia…/