It may not be long before augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets cause them to keep their phones in their pockets when they want to read The New York Times or The Washington Post.

Data visualization and AR/VR researchers at Georgia Tech are exploring how users can interact with news stories through AR/VR headsets and are determining which stories are best suited for virtual presentation.

Tao Lu, a Ph.D. student at the School of Interactive Computing, Assistant Professor Yalong Yang, and Associate Professor Alex Endert led a recent study that they say is among the first to explore user preference in virtually designed news stories. Yang and Endert are also faculty members in the Institute for People and Technology at Georgia Tech.

The researchers will present a paper they authored based on the study at the 2025 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems this week in Yokohama, Japan.

Digital platforms have elevated explanatory journalism, which provides greater context for a subject through data, images, and in-depth analysis. These platforms also allow stories to be more visually appealing through graphic design and animation.

Lu said AR/VR can further elevate explanatory journalism through 3D, interactive spatial environments. He added that media organizations should think about how the stories they produce will appear in AR/VR as much as they think about how they will appear on mobile devices.

“We’re giving users another option to experience the story and for designers and developers to show their stories in another modality,” Lu said.

“A screen-based story on a smartphone is easy to use and cost-effective. However, some stories are better presented in AR/VR, which will become more popular as technology gets cheaper. AR/VR can provide 3D spatial information that would be hard to understand on a phone or desktop screen.”

Read more about this research here >>

Georgia Tech researchers help identify the top 10 most pressing challenges to improving diabetes care in India.

With more than 200 million people suffering from or at high risk for diabetes, India is referred to as the diabetes capital of the world. And the complex challenges faced by people living with the disease suggest the need for a diverse range of technological solutions. 

So, engineers and clinicians from both India and the U.S., including Georgia Tech researchers, met recently at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) in Chennai to identify 10 priority diabetes-related challenges faced by both patients and caregivers in India — challenges that technology could solve in the next decade. The event was organized by IIT Madras’ Shankar Center of Excellence in Diabetes Research (SCoEDR), Emory Global Diabetes Research Center (EGDRC), and Georgia Tech’s Institute for People and Technology (IPaT).

The goal of developing the top 10 list was to incorporate insights from diabetes patients, healthcare professionals, and supportive family members to guide engineers and technologists in identifying key challenges that disproportionately affect people with diabetes and their caregivers. The approach aims to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship, reducing the time needed to create affordable technological solutions that can help alleviate the burden of diabetes.

Anubama Rajan, co-head of SCoEDR, assistant professor at IIT Madras, and a member of the expert group, said that “clearly defining the problems faced by patients, their caregivers, and doctors is among the most crucial steps in developing technological solutions.”

The Top 10 Problems for Diabetes in India can now be found at stopncd.org. Jithin Sam Varghese, co-director of the EGDRC Diabetes Translational Accelerator, and member of the expert group, encourages anyone interested in developing solutions to work together. 

“There is a great need for engineers and doctors to collaborate at the very initial stages of product development to clearly define the problem a technology aims to solve,” says Varghese. “By fostering these early partnerships, we can accelerate the development of impactful solutions.” 

As a first step in generating solutions, three of the problems identified — inaccessible diabetes education; delayed detection of asymptomatic diabetic foot disease; and the lack of affordable, protective diabetic footwear — were chosen as problem statements for the DiaTech 10X – Diabetes in India Hackathon. The hackathon, which ended April 13 and had over 170 participants from India and the U.S., invited students to collaborate on innovative solutions for diabetes care. The winning teams proposed artificial intelligence-enabled solutions for diagnosing and monitoring diabetic foot disease using noninvasive approaches.

StopNCD.org strives to bridge the gap between problems, research, and real-world translation of solutions, ensuring that the most innovative solutions reach the communities that need them.

“This diabetes top 10 challenge and DiaTech 10X India hackathon were a perfect opportunity to combine the world-class expertise of Emory and IIT Madras with IPaT’s people-centered approach to technical innovations,” noted Michael Best, executive director of IPaT. “This initiative represents our shared commitment to global health and wellbeing, from Atlanta to India and beyond.”

If you’re worried about artificial intelligence (AI) taking your job, Georgia Tech’s Mark Riedl says that probably won’t happen. However, losing your job to someone who knows how to leverage AI tools in the workplace is something to be concerned about.

To help people beyond campus understand what AI tools are available and how to use them effectively, Riedl recently co-taught an online course by CNBC Make It titled How to Use AI to Be More Successful at Work.

“The running joke right now is that AI will not replace people, but people who use AI will replace people who do not use AI,” said Riedl, professor in the School of Interactive Computing. 

The 90-minute course offers tips and hacks to users who are:

• Inexperienced in using AI tools in the workplace and are looking to grow in professional development
• Small business owners who are overwhelmed with administrative tasks, marketing, industry research, and data analysis
• Job seekers looking to stand out from the crowd
• People seeking to improve their work-life balance

Riedl, whose research focuses on human-centered and explainable AI, taught sections of the course on the foundation of AI. One of the biggest sections of the course covers large-language models (LLMs). 

“When large language models were put forward as chatbots, this was the first time that any person out in the world could naturally interact with an AI system without having to learn to program or write code,” Riedl said.

For less than $100, the on-demand course includes a detailed workbook that helps users consider each aspect of their jobs and daily lives and how AI can improve them.

The Big Picture

CNBC’s use of Riedl’s expertise is one of many examples of how College of Computing faculty are leading the way in teaching AI literacy.

David Joyner, executive director of online education, said Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program continues to innovate with AI literacy in mind.

[RELATED: Experts Say Life-long Learning is a Must to Keep Pace with Generative AI]

He said companies and employees alike are learning to navigate AI. Companies are considering AI from a general perspective, focusing on how it can make their businesses more efficient, while employees are using it to become more versatile and valuable workers.

“It’s an interesting dichotomy,” Joyner said. “If companies are trying to figure out how to operate more efficiently, and you have people using these tools to be more productive, at what point does the company need to prioritize using these tools instead of letting their use be organic? We’re still in this experimental phase.”

In a conversation with former College of Computing interim dean Alex Orso, Joyner discusses how OMSCS is staying at the forefront in equipping students with the latest technology skills they need to be successful in a fluctuating industry.

“We must figure out what generative AI can do well and properly leverage it so we’re not cutting out the foundation of a building and replacing it with sticks,” Joyner said.

The complete conversation between Joyner and Orso is available on the College's Youtube channel.

An IPaT translational research team is working to advance aircraft maintenance.
 

In the dynamic world of aviation maintenance, precision, quickness, and meticulous documentation are essential. Maribeth Gandy Coleman, director of research and a Regents’ Researcher in Georgia Tech’s Institute for People and Technology (IPaT), has been leading an IPaT translational research team working to advance aircraft maintenance with PartWorks, an Atlanta-based aerospace engineering firm dedicated to extending the life and improving the operational efficiency and availability of commercial and military aircraft and spacecraft.

Coleman, a recognized augmented reality expert at Georgia Tech, has been working with the PartWorks’ engineering team to solve aircraft maintenance challenges, leading to measurable improvements in labor costs, training, repair quality, turnaround time, and maintenance process validation. This research partnership has led to the development of several patented and patent-pending solutions related to aircraft maintenance.

“I could not have hired anybody with the diverse skill sets that both Maribeth and the Georgia Tech team brought to bear,” said Scott Geller, CEO of PartWorks. “We’ve utilized different and complicated skill sets, sometimes in small quantities, that have made our project work very cost-effective. We’ve used an iterative research and development process that hasn’t had a shocking cost or huge surprises. And the Georgia Tech team has been both easy and fun to work with, too.”

This collaboration has led to PartWorks launching a new aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) augmented reality solution called RepĀR™. Designed for both military and commercial aviation, RepĀR’s augmented reality overlay transforms structural repairs by ensuring accuracy, reducing labor costs, minimizing human error, and accelerating return-to-service timelines. 

RepĀR rapidly captures structural repair data, embedding spatial awareness and real-time validation into maintenance workflows. Novice technicians can achieve results beyond their operational experience, while seasoned technicians experience measurable productivity gains.

“RepĀR exemplifies how targeted computer vision applications can deliver immediate value in aerospace manufacturing and maintenance,” said Shelley Peterson, CEO of Wizard Wells. “By precisely identifying fastener locations and validating tool placement, it reduces rework, minimizes human error, and ensures tasks are performed right the first time.”

PartWorks demonstrated RepĀR at the Aviation Week Network’s MRO Americas, which took place April 8 – 10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

“This collaborative research with industry demonstrates why Georgia Tech has interdisciplinary research institutes such as IPaT, and why you have research faculty,” said Coleman. “You’re probably not going to be able to get some Ph.D. students to do this work. The focus here with PartWorks is on translation. It’s cross-disciplinary collaboration and translation built on augmented reality work we’ve been doing for 25 years and implementing cutting-edge technology crafted to the right context to support aircraft maintenance.”

“This Georgia Tech collaboration and augmented reality MRO research and development are in conjunction with a multiyear contract we’re working on with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) in Dayton, Ohio,” said Geller. “We’re appreciative of their partnership and excited to be getting commercial interest in RepĀR from both military and commercial aviation OEMs and MROs as well as space industry companies.”

Georgia Tech professors Michelle LaPlaca and W. Hong Yeo have been selected as recipients of Peterson Professorships with the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center (PTC) at Georgia Tech. The professorships, supported by the G.P. “Bud” Peterson and Valerie H. Peterson Faculty Endowment Fund, are meant to further energize the Georgia Tech and Children’s partnership by engaging and empowering researchers involved in pediatrics.

In a joint statement, PTC co-directors Wilbur Lam and Stanislav Emelianov said, “The appointment of Dr. LaPlaca and Dr. Yeo as Peterson Professors exemplifies the vision of Bud and Valerie Peterson — advancing innovation and collaboration through the Pediatric Technology Center to bring breakthrough ideas from the lab to the bedside, improving the lives of children and transforming healthcare.”

LaPlaca is a professor and associate chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint department between Georgia Tech and Emory University. Her research is focused on traumatic brain injury and concussion, concentrating on sources of heterogeneity and clinical translation. Specifically, she is working on biomarker discovery, the role of the glymphatic system, and novel virtual reality neurological assessments.    

“I am thrilled to be chosen as one of the Peterson Professors and appreciate Bud and Valerie Peterson’s dedication to pediatric research,” she said. “The professorship will allow me to broaden research in pediatric concussion assessment and college student concussion awareness, as well as to identify biomarkers in experimental models of brain injury.”

In addition to the research lab, LaPlaca will work with an undergraduate research class called Concussion Connect, which is part of the Vertically Integrated Projects program at Georgia Tech.

“Through the PTC, Georgia Tech and Children’s will positively impact brain health in Georgia’s pediatric population,” said LaPlaca.

Yeo is the Harris Saunders, Jr. Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the director of the Wearable Intelligent Systems and Healthcare Center at Georgia Tech. His research focuses on nanomanufacturing and membrane electronics to develop soft biomedical devices aimed at improving disease diagnostics, therapeutics, and rehabilitation.

“I am truly honored to be awarded the Peterson Professorship from the Children’s PTC at Georgia Tech,” he said. “This recognition will greatly enhance my research efforts in developing soft bioelectronics aimed at advancing pediatric healthcare, as well as expand education opportunities for the next generation of undergraduate and graduate students interested in creating innovative medical devices that align seamlessly with the recent NSF Research Traineeship grant I received. I am eager to contribute to the dynamic partnership between Georgia Tech and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and to empower innovative solutions that will improve the lives of children.”

The Peterson Professorships honor the former Georgia Tech President and First Lady, whose vision for the importance of research in improving pediatric healthcare has had an enormous positive impact on the care of pediatric patients in our state and region.

The Children’s PTC at Georgia Tech brings clinical experts from Children’s together with Georgia Tech scientists and engineers to develop technological solutions to problems in the health and care of children. Children’s PTC provides extraordinary opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatrics, creating breakthrough discoveries that often can only be found at the intersection of multiple disciplines. These collaborations also allow us to bring discoveries to the clinic and the bedside, thereby enhancing the lives of children and young adults. The mission of the PTC is to establish the world’s leading program in the development of technological solutions for children’s health, focused on three strategic areas that will have a lasting impact on Georgia’s kids and beyond.

Steven W. McLaughlin, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, has been named the 14th president of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, effective July 1. The Cooper Union is a private college with internationally renowned schools of architecture, art, and engineering, and a faculty of humanities and social sciences. 

McLaughlin has spent nearly 30 years at Georgia Tech in various roles, both in the classroom and in administration. As provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, a role he has held since 2020, McLaughlin provides leadership to all academic and related units, including 29 Schools and seven Colleges. As provost, he oversaw the launch of Georgia Tech’s College of Lifetime Learning in 2024. Previously, McLaughlin was the dean and Southern Company Chair of the College of Engineering, the Steve W. Chaddick School Chair in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and vice provost for International Initiatives and Steven A. Denning Chair in Global Engagement. 

“Steve has been an important colleague and a dear friend, and his leadership has made a lasting impact on Georgia Tech,” said President Ángel Cabrera. “He has been a steadfast advocate for academic excellence and student success, always pushing us to be better and do more. Throughout his career, Steve has led with a deep commitment to expanding access and opportunity, ensuring that more students can benefit from the life-changing impact of higher education. I can’t think of a better match than Steve and The Cooper Union — an institution that shares his deep belief in the power of education to transform lives.” 

In 2014, McLaughlin co-founded CREATE-X, a campuswide effort to instill entrepreneurial confidence in students and help them launch companies. Since then, the program has successfully launched 200 student-led companies and engaged over 4,000 students. McLaughlin also oversaw the renovation and creation of the Van Leer Interdisciplinary Design Commons and Makerspace while chair of ECE. 

In 2011, he was awarded the Chevalier dans l'Ordre National du Mérite (Knight of the French National Order of Merit), the second-highest civilian award given by the Republic of France. He was the first Georgia Tech recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and he is a Fellow of the IEEE and a past president of the IEEE Information Theory Society. 

McLaughlin’s research interests are in communications and information theory. His research group has published more than 250 papers in journals and conferences and holds 36 U.S. patents in the areas of forward error correction and equalization in wireless communications, data security, and privacy, among others. 

“As higher education continues to change at an accelerated pace, we have identified an educator and proven leader who is known for his transformative impact and high degree of emotional intelligence,” said Jamie Levitt, interim board chair and co-chair of Cooper’s presidential search committee. “Steve is a champion of students and, throughout his career, has sought to create learning experiences for students to grow as creative, ethical, globally aware, technologically sophisticated leaders who can define and solve problems to improve the human condition.”   

“With all that is happening in higher education today, the vision of Peter Cooper is as relevant as ever,” McLaughlin said. “The Cooper Union is the right place at the right time, and I can’t wait to get started.” 

More than 80 participants attended a dynamic half-day workshop exploring how large language models (LLMs) can accelerate scientific discovery across disciplines. The workshop, Boosting Research with LLMs, was held April 1 in the Technology Square Research Building’s ballroom and was co-sponsored by the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) and the Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS).

The workshop presented three expert-led panels to uncover practical applications of LLMs for engineers, natural scientists, computer scientists, and social scientists-transforming the way they analyze data, generate insights, and advance research.

The workshop was designed for beginners and required no prior experience with LLMs, making it a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge Al tools that can enhance research capabilities. The event was open to Georgia Tech faculty, graduate students, researchers and staff. 

"The LLM workshop drew in participants with a wide range of interests,” said David Sherrill, Regents’ Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and interim executive director of IDEaS.  “It was exciting to hear how LLMs are being used by students and faculty to accelerate their research in science, engineering, and social sciences."

View the agenda and the thirteen presenters >>

For decades, understanding the clicks, whistles and burst pulses of dolphins has been a scientific frontier. What if we could not only listen to dolphins, but also understand the patterns of their complex communication well enough to generate realistic responses?

Today, on National Dolphin Day, Google, in collaboration with researchers at Georgia Tech and the field research of the Wild Dolphin Project (WDP), is announcing progress on DolphinGemma: a foundational AI model trained to learn the structure of dolphin vocalizations and generate novel dolphin-like sound sequences. This approach in the quest for interspecies communication pushes the boundaries of AI and our potential connection with the marine world.

Read the full story from Google here >>

This story features three Georgia Tech researchers involved with the wild dolphin project.