Mercredis de STMS are pleased to welcome Valentin BAUER on the 10th of January. Invited by the Sound/Music & Health research axis of the STMS laboratory (Ircam - CNRS - Sorbonne University - French Ministry of Culture), Valentin Bauer will present his work about
"Exploring Extended Reality Multisensory Approaches for People with Autism: Enhancing Well-Being and Assessing Sound Perception"
The presentation will be in French, at Ircam, and can be followed live on https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87092887541?pwd=28ypigWm2frDqqoVxzdVbR1244zrtc.1 (meeting ID : 870 9288 7541 / Code : 015493)
Abstract:
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social and sensory difficulties. Although Extended Reality (XR) research holds promise for complementing clinical approaches, it focuses on the social-emotional skills of autistic children with mild learning disabilities. Yet clinical approaches also target people with severe learning disabilities and complex needs, addressing sensory perception in particular. Based on this observation, 34 interviews were conducted with stakeholders to compare their potential needs with existing studies in XR. The results prompted me to initiate three research projects. The Magic Bubbles multisensory AR mediation application was designed, developed, and tested in a day hospital with a clinical team. It aims to reassure children with complex needs and promote the sharing of their experiences. I then focused on using AR to assess the atypical sound perception of autistic people, in conjunction with a psychomotor therapist. A sound taxonomy was created, based on a literature review and consultation with 68 stakeholders, followed by a reflection on the design of an AR device. Finally, a musicographic approach to fostering collaboration between autistic people within a multisensory space was designed with stakeholders. The presentation will conclude with research perspectives based on the main findings.
Biography:
Valentin Bauer is a post-doctoral fellow at Politecnico di Milano, in the i3lab laboratory, where he works on the use of musicographic approaches to foster collaboration between autistic people. In 2017, he graduated from the Formation Supérieure aux Métiers du Son at the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP). During this period, he devoted himself to spatialized music production, in particular during his dissertation conducted in conjunction with Radio France's Quality and Innovation unit. In 2018, he worked as a music consultant for the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. He then joined the Media and Arts Technology Program at Queen Mary University of London, where he completed his dissertation with BBC R&D on a participatory performance in audio augmented reality. In 2023, he obtained his PhD in computer science at Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, LISN, VENISE team, working on Extended Reality, audio, and autism, in conjunction with several clinical partners. In parallel, Valentin teaches research courses at the Paris Conservatoire and ENS Louis Lumière, and has teached computer science labs in HCI and algorithmics at IUT Orsay, as well as virtual reality at the Polytech Paris-Saclay master's program. He has also taken part in several projects related to musical creation, notably for the Cité des Sciences in 2022.