Textile Technology Know-How of the IoP at the virtual IHSI2021
The fourth Intelligent Human Systems Integration Conference (IHSI) took place from February 22-24, 2021, this year presented virtually. Last year, the IHSI was one of the last physical conferences with CoE connection that had taken place before the outbreak of the corona pandemic, back then in Modena, Italy. This year's virtual conference again offered researchers from all over the world scope to discuss the latest innovations and possibilities in the field of human-machine interaction, automation and system integration and offer a chance to meet fellow researchers online. Florian Brillowski from the Institute for Textile Technology (ITA) presented options for integrating IoP concepts into the textile industry, which is characterized by craftsmanship, on the basis of exciting use cases from our Cluster Research. He answered a few questions about his attendance.
Hello Florian. Today is the second time reporting about an IHSI Conference in Corona times. The organizer this year was the University of Palermo. What were your impressions of the virtual version of the conference?
Overall, I found it very interesting to see what other scientists are doing. For example, how AI is used in the context of health care, fitness or urban planning. I found the quality of the lectures to be fluctuating (scientifically), some really excellent and interesting, others scratching the surface. Nevertheless, it is also interesting to see that comparable approaches, such as gamification, are also used in other domains and that attempts are made to implement them in a variety of locations.
Your lecture was titled “Know-How Transfer And Production Support Systems to Cultivate the Internet of Production within the Textile Industry”. Can you break the topic down for us? What is the most important aspect of your research?
My contribution explored how the focus shifts from purely physical products, which can be experienced in real life, for example, haptically, to a mix of physical and non-physical goods. This means digital and virtual products. This shift then creates the need to deal with digitization in order to remain competitive. The presentation was about how this is especially important for traditional trades, which are still very much characterized by manual work (such as the textile industry), and how change can be implemented with the help of the IoP. For this purpose, the ITA use cases are used to show what such an implementation can look like. For the community, it should show how the rather abstract concept of IoP can be applied in a wide variety of ways and that above all the importance of non-physical goods is steadily increasing.
Where exactly are you based in IoP research?
I myself am in the workstreams A.III and D.I. In A.III I work in the "Team Textile" with the DBIS, KBSG, HCIC and IMA and create cross-sectional points of contact in D.I on the topics of human in the loop and acceptance. There is also constant exchange and comprehensive collaboration with the other ITA employees in the cluster.
How do you find the implementation of digital conference concepts using the example of the virtual IHSI?
Overall, there was a smooth process, but there was a bit of confusion with the time zone, as this was not given in the local time but in EST. Compared to real conferences, however, there was a little less attendance depending on the time and the exchange of knowledge was not quite as informal and relaxed. Overall, however, I thought it was great that the current situation offered an opportunity for scientific exchange, and I was also able to make one or two interesting contacts.
Which aspect of physical conferences do you currently miss the most?
All the "trappings": The networking, eating together and thus getting to know people beyond your own lecture and getting into an interesting scientific exchange. Unfortunately, that gets lost a little. Under normal conditions there is of course a nice side effect to get to know another country, another culture etc. and to be able to broaden your own personal horizons
Thank you Florian Brillowski and we wish you continued success. Perhaps the next IHSI, from February 22-24, 2022, can take place in attendance again, this time in Venice.