| 1 |
22.10.2026 |
CS, Psy |
From Social Computing to AET |
The differences between emotion-adaptive and artificially empathic technology, the AET definition, example domains such as training, education, health coaching and care, and the course and project formats. |
– |
| 2 |
29.10.2026 |
Psy |
Affect, Emotion, Mood and Other Related Concepts |
The affect trinity; basic, dimensional, appraisal and constructivist models; the component model and observable signals, and their limitations ("no fingerprint"). |
– |
| 3 |
05.11.2026 |
Psy |
Methods I: Thinking like an Experimenter |
Science vs. common sense, from observation to hypothesis, correlation vs. experiment, independent and dependent variables, between- and within-subject designs, threats to validity. |
Binding sign-up: preference form |
| 4 |
12.11.2026 |
Psy |
Empathy, Theory of Mind, Mentalization |
Cognitive vs. affective empathy, compassion, Theory of Mind (ToM), mentalization, CASA / Media Equation and the persona effect. |
Kickoff: teams, domain, scenario |
| 5 |
19.11.2026 |
CS, Psy |
Computational Affect + ALMA Explorer (hands-on) |
OCC appraisal theory, the OCEAN personality model, the PAD mood model and the decay of emotional intensity. Hands-on: modelling characters in ALMA Explorer. |
First draft: research question + hypothesis; scenario briefs |
| 6 |
26.11.2026 |
CS |
Interactive Systems + VisualSceneMaker web (hands-on) |
The agentic SIA research framework VisualSceneMaker: scenes and sceneflows, and an overview of the plugins (ALMA, LLM, ASR, TTS, Wizard of Oz). |
Draft research question + hypothesis due Wed 25.11. · First prototype |
| 7 |
03.12.2026 |
Psy |
Methods II: Measurement and Running a Study |
Questionnaires and scale quality, relational measures (felt safety, perceived autonomy, self-respect, empathic accuracy), power and sample size, pilot study, preregistration, research ethics (consent, data protection), and the VisualSceneMaker StudyMaster. |
Milestone 1 due Wed 02.12., 23:55: research question + hypothesis |
| 8 |
10.12.2026 |
Eth, Psy |
Values and Norms: What an Empathic System Has to Achieve |
Fundamental human values such as safety, autonomy and self-respect, in the context of goals, social roles and cultural norms; display rules. Current approaches: values at design time (CCVSD), as runtime constraints (CARESSES) or as runtime objectives (AET), and how to check whether they were respected. |
Self-check quiz (voluntary) · poster template and coding scheme |
| 9 |
17.12.2026 |
Psy, CS |
AET I: Regulation and the Individual |
Predictive processing, Moser & von Zeppelin (structural, situational and communicative emotions), self vs. display regulation, MARSSI. |
Study plan due + prototype check |
| 10 |
07.01.2027 |
Psy |
Methods III: Data Analysis |
Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, effect sizes, reporting, open science (p-hacking, HARKing). |
Run studies |
| 11 |
14.01.2027 |
Psy, CS |
AET II: Relationship and Social Interaction |
Person objects and relationships; inner and outer communication paths. Regulation vs. co-regulation, especially repair, as shown in Mentalization-Based Therapy. |
Analysis |
| 12 |
21.01.2027 |
CS, Eth |
AET III: Making Values Computable, and Limits |
Cost function over the value goals, uncertainty, explainability, role and limits of LLMs, deception and dependency, uncanny valley, governance (EU AI Act, MEESTAR), outlook. |
Analysis |
| – |
28.01.2027 |
– |
Poster Fair I |
Half of the teams present; the other half are the audience and give peer feedback. |
Poster + demo |
| – |
04.02.2027 |
– |
Poster Fair II |
The other half of the teams present. |
Poster + demo |
