Intelligent Interaction Resesarch Group

Intelligent Interaction Research Group

Intelligent Interaction is a research group active in the cross-section of Intelligent Systems and Human Computer Interaction with applications in the Digital Cultural Heritage Management domain, based in the University of the Aegean.

What we do

Our expertise focuses on developing intelligent, interactive, and internet-based technologies to advance the preservation, presentation, and promotion of cultural heritage resources and services, with a strong commitment to research and development.

Intelligent Systems

Blending advanced technology and insightful algorithms to preserve and enhance cultural heritage and beyond

Human-Computer Interaction

Elevating digital heritage experiences through seamless interactions between users and advanced systems

Information Management

Optimising the preservation and accessibility of cultural assets through information science applications

Research Areas

Expertise spanning a diverse range of fields within Digital Cultural Heritage Management.

AI & ML

Advancing research with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) solutions, applying deep learning techniques for sentiment analysis, image classification and speech recognition.

Cultural User Experience

Pioneering Cultural User eXperience (CUX), by transforming users into active participants, bringing forth the multidimensional aspects beyond usability, valuing factors like cultural diversity and individual profiles for shaping unique cultural experiences.

Semantic Data

Utilising ontology-based semantic services such as search and retrieval, integration, mining of data, and reasoning, streamlining Linked Open Data production and use.

Affective Computing

Capturing, interpreting and simulating human emotions and enhancing human-computer interaction research through Affective Computing (AC), bridging computer science, psychology, and cognitive science.

Serious Games

Propelling educational gaming, Serious Games (SGs) for captivating the Cultural Heritage sector by blending learning and playfulness, fostering engaging game experiences (GX) and heightened user motivation.

Crowdsourcing

Engaging the public and enriching Cultural Heritage through crowdsourcing systems and participatory design, opening more inclusive and accessible spaces.

AR & MR

Developing Augmented and Mixed Reality applications in Cultural Heritage, by creating engaging interfaces, integrating advanced technologies for enhanced Cultural User eXperience, involving research in 3D UI design and evaluation.

Internet of Things

Enhancing user experience within IoT and ubiquitous environments through context-awareness, with applications including semantic preservation of cultural heritage, personalized content delivery, and adaptive cultural spaces.

Digital Storytelling

Creating Digital Storytelling cultural heritage applications using computational methods and Large Language Models as tools for Museums, with emergent storytelling systems for cultural heritage,

About

The Intelligent Interaction Research Group (ii.aegean.gr), established in 2016, is an active research group specialising in Human-Computer Interaction, Intelligent Systems, and Cultural Heritage Management. Led by Associate Professor George Caridakis from the Department of Cultural Technology and Communication at the University of the Aegean, the group coordinates a wide range of research, educational, and developmental initiatives. The team is composed of a core group of postdoctoral researchers and doctoral candidates, with a flexible, interdisciplinary structure that fosters collaborative research across projects.

INtelligent Systems ANd Experiences (IN.S.AN.E)
(goinsane.gr) is a recently established spinoff company (2023) in the areas of Intelligent Systems and Human-Computer Interaction with applications in the Digital Cultural Heritage Management domain. INSANE is affiliated with the Intelligent Interaction Research Group, i-Lab Intelligent Systems Laboratory, Dept. of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean, under the coordination of Dr George Caridakis.

Publications

Zoi & Caridakis. (2024). eXtended Reality Content Prototyping through On-Device Solutions: An Experimental Platform based on Google’s MediaPipe Face-Tracking and Unity. EuroXR 2024: Proceedings of the 21st EuroXR International Conference, 163–166. https://doi.org/10.32040/2242-122X.2024.T432

Ziku, M., Teneketzis, A., Alexandridis, G., Christodoulou, Y., Konstantakis, M., Drosopoulos, A., Dritsas, E., Siolas, G., Paximadis, K., Rousaki, F., & Caridakis, G. (2024). Digital Cultural Heritage Management for Local Heritage: Overcoming Barriers to Accessibility with Regional Digital Infrastructures. Journal of Integrated Information Management, 20-29 Pages. https://doi.org/10.26265/JIIM.V9I1.38585

Ziku, M., Kotis, K., Pavlogeorgatos, G., Kavakli, E., Zeeri, C., & Caridakis, G. (2024). Evaluating Crowdsourcing Applications with Map-Based Storytelling Capabilities in Cultural Heritage. Heritage, 7(7), 3429–3454. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7070162

Trichopoulos, G., Konstantakis, M., & Caridakis, G. (2024). Smart Glasses for Cultural Heritage: A Survey. Heritage, 7(3), 1665–1688. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7030078

Konstantakis, M., Trichopoulos, G., Aliprantis, J., Gavogiannis, N., Karagianni, A., Parthenios, P., Serraos, K., & Caridakis, G. (2024). An Improved Approach for Generating Digital Twins of Cultural Spaces through the Integration of Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning Technologies. Digital, 4(1), 215–231. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4010011

Angelis, S., Moraitou, E., Caridakis, G., & Kotis, K. (2024). CHEKG: a collaborative and hybrid methodology for engineering modular and fair domain-specific knowledge graphs. Knowledge and Information Systems, 66(8), 4899–4925. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10115-024-02110-w

Dupret, K., Reyes, E., Ziku, M., Szoniecky, S., & Caridakis, G. (2024). Enhancing cultural and societal engagement through participatory methods: cross-disciplinary learning perspectives. In Entrepreneurship and Digital Humanities. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Spigarelli, F., Kempton, L., & Compagnucci, L. (Eds.). (2024). Entrepreneurship and Digital Humanities. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Trichopoulos, G. (2023). Large Language Models for Cultural Heritage. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of the ACM Greek SIGCHI Chapter, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1145/3609987.3610018

Trichopoulos, G., Konstantakis, M., Alexandridis, G., & Caridakis, G. (2023). Large Language Models as Recommendation Systems in Museums. Electronics, 12(18), 3829. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12183829

Trichopoulos, G., Konstantakis, M., Caridakis, G., Katifori, A., & Koukouli, M. (2023). Crafting a Museum Guide Using ChatGPT4. Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 7(3), 148. https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc7030148

Konstantakis, M., Trichopoulos, G., Aliprantis, J., Michalakis, K., Caridakis, G., Thanou, A., Zafeiropoulos, A., Sklavounou, S., Psarras, C., Papavassiliou, S., & Koskeridou, E. (2023). An Enhanced Methodology for Creating Digital Twins within a Paleontological Museum Using Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning Techniques. Heritage, 6(9), 5967–5980. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6090314

Trichopoulos, G., Alexandridis, G., & Caridakis, G. (2023). A Survey on Computational and Emergent Digital Storytelling. Heritage, 6(2), 1227–1263. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020068

Michalakis, K., & Caridakis, G. (2023). Enhancing user interaction with context-awareness in cultural spaces. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 27(2), 379–399. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-022-01698-6

Moraitou, E., Chrisodoulou, Y., Kotis, K., & Caridakis, G. (2023). An Ontology to Support Decision-Making in Conservation and Restoration Interventions of Cultural Heritage. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Semantic Web and Ontology Design for Cultural Heritage Co-Located with the International Semantic Web Conference 2023 (ISWC 2023).

Moraitou, E., Christodoulou, Y., & Caridakis, G. (2022). Semantic models and services for conservation and restoration of cultural heritage: A comprehensive survey. Semantic Web, 14(2), 261–291. https://doi.org/10.3233/SW-223105

Konstantakis, M., Christodoulou, Y., Aliprantis, J., & Caridakis, G. (2022). ACUX Recommender: A Mobile Recommendation System for Multi-Profile Cultural Visitors Based on Visiting Preferences Classification. Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 6(4), 144. https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc6040144

Moraitou, E., Konstantakis, M., Chrysanthi, A., Christodoulou, Y., Pavlidis, G., & Caridakis, G. (2022). Supporting conservation and restoration through digital media modeling and exploitation - the example of the Acropolis of Ancient Tiryns. 2022 17th International Workshop on Semantic and Social Media Adaptation & Personalization (SMAP), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1109/SMAP56125.2022.9942216

Michalakis, K., & Caridakis, G. (2022). Context Awareness in Cultural Heritage Applications: A Survey. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, 15(2), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1145/3480953

Konstantakis, M., Christodoulou, Y., Alexandridis, G., Teneketzis, A., & Caridakis, G. (2022). ACUX Typology: A Harmonisation of Cultural-Visitor Typologies for Multi-Profile Classification. Digital, 2(3), 365–378. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital2030020

Trichopoulos, G., Aliprantis, J., Konstantakis, M., Michalakis, K., & Caridakis, G. (2022). Tangible and Personalized DS Application Approach in Cultural Heritage: The CHATS Project. Computers, 11(2), 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/computers11020019

Ntagiantas, A., Konstantakis, M., Aliprantis, J., Manousos, D., Koumakis, L., & Caridakis, G. (2022). An Augmented Reality Children’s Book Edutainment through Participatory Content Creation and Promotion Based on the Pastoral Life of Psiloritis. Applied Sciences, 12(3), 1339. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031339

Karageorgiou, Z., Michalakis, K., Konstantakis, M., Alexandridis, G., & Caridakis, G. (2022). Smart Escape Rooms for Cultural Heritage: A Systematic Review. Proceedings of the European Conference on Games-Based Learning, 15, 24–25.

Chrysanthi, A., Katifori, A., Vrettakis, E., Michalakis, K., Petousi, D., & Caridakis, G. (2022). Bringing Together and Pushing Apart: Digital Proxemics and Interactive Narrative Design in Cultural Heritage Experiences. Proceedings of the AVI2CH Workshop on Advanced Visual Interfaces and Interactions in Cultural Heritage Co-Located with 2022 International Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces (AVI 2022), Rome, Italy, June 6, 2022, 3243. https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3243/paper3.pdf

Moraitou, E., Angelis, S., Kotis, K., Caridakis, G., Papadopoulou, E.-E., & Soulakellis, N. (2022). Towards Engineering Drones Semantic Trajectories as Knowledge Graphs. Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Geospatial Linked Data 2022 Co-Located with 19th Extended Semantic Web Conference (ESWC 2022) Hersonissos, Greece, May 30th, 2022.

Konstantakis, M., Aliprantis, J., Teneketzis, A., Caridakis, G., Sirmakessis, S., Filippidis, E., & Manos, A. (2021). Content Personalization framework in cultural routes: TRACCE project case study. CHI Greece 2021: 1st International Conference of the ACM Greek SIGCHI Chapter, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1145/3489410.3489432

Trichopoulos, G., Aliprantis, J., Konstantakis, M., Michalakis, K., Mylonas, P., Voutos, Y., & Caridakis, G. (2021). Augmented and personalized digital narratives for Cultural Heritage under a tangible interface. 2021 16th International Workshop on Semantic and Social Media Adaptation & Personalization (SMAP), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1109/SMAP53521.2021.9610815

Alexandridis, G., Varlamis, I., Korovesis, K., Caridakis, G., & Tsantilas, P. (2021). A Survey on Sentiment Analysis and Opinion Mining in Greek Social Media. Information, 12(8), 331. https://doi.org/10.3390/info12080331

Michalakis, K., Christodoulou, Y., Caridakis, G., Voutos, Y., & Mylonas, P. (2021). A Context-Aware Middleware for Context Modeling and Reasoning: A Case-Study in Smart Cultural Spaces. Applied Sciences, 11(13), 5770. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11135770

Alexandridis, G., Aliprantis, J., Michalakis, K., Korovesis, K., Tsantilas, P., & Caridakis, G. (2021). A Knowledge-Based Deep Learning Architecture for Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis. International Journal of Neural Systems, 31(10), 2150046. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0129065721500465

Korovesis, K., Alexandridis, G., Caridakis, G., Polydoras, P., & Tsantilas, P. (2020). Leveraging aspect-based sentiment prediction with textual features and document metadata. 11th Hellenic Conference on Artificial Intelligence, 168–174. https://doi.org/10.1145/3411408.3411433

Konstantakis, M., Alexandridis, G., & Caridakis, G. (2020). A Personalized Heritage-Oriented Recommender System Based on Extended Cultural Tourist Typologies. Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 4(2), 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc4020012

Alexandridis, G., Voutos, Y., Mylonas, P., & Caridakis, G. (2020). A Geolocation Analytics-Driven Ontology for Short-Term Leases: Inferring Current Sharing Economy Trends. Algorithms, 13(3), 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/a13030059

Konstantakis, M., & Caridakis, G. (2020). Adding Culture to UX: UX Research Methodologies and Applications in Cultural Heritage. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, 13(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1145/3354002

Michalakis, K., Moraitou, E., Aliprantis, J., & Caridakis, G. (2020). Semantic Representation and Internet of Things in Cultural Heritage Preventive Conservation. International Conference on Cultural Informatics, Communication & Media Studies, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.12681/cicms.2765

Alexandridis, G., Michalakis, K., Aliprantis, J., Polydoras, P., Tsantilas, P., & Caridakis, G. (2020). A Deep Learning Approach to Aspect-Based Sentiment Prediction. In I. Maglogiannis, L. Iliadis, & E. Pimenidis (Eds.), Artificial Intelligence Applications and Innovations (Vol. 583, pp. 397–408). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49161-1_33

Aliprantis, J., & Caridakis, G. (2019). A Survey of Augmented Reality Applications in Cultural Heritage: International Journal of Computational Methods in Heritage Science, 3(2), 118–147. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJCMHS.2019070107

Moraitou, E., Aliprantis, J., Christodoulou, Y., Teneketzis, A., & Caridakis, G. (2019). Semantic Bridging of Cultural Heritage Disciplines and Tasks. Heritage, 2(1), 611–630. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2010040

Alexandridis, G., Chrysanthi, A., Tsekouras, G. E., & Caridakis, G. (2019). Personalized and content adaptive cultural heritage path recommendation: an application to the Gournia and Çatalhöyük archaeological sites. User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction, 29(1), 201–238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11257-019-09227-6

Michalakis, K., Alexandridis, G., Caridakis, G., & Mylonas, P. (2019). Context Incorporation in Cultural Path Recommendation Using Topic Modelling. Proceedings of 1st International Workshop on Visual Pattern Extraction and Recognition for Cultural Heritage Understanding Co-Located with 15th Italian Research Conference on Digital Libraries (IRCDL 2019), CNR Area in Pisa, Italy, January 30, 2019, 2320, 62–73. https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2320/paper12.pdf

Aliprantis, J., Konstantakis, M., Nikopoulou, R., Mylonas, P., & Caridakis, G. (2019). Natural Interaction in Augmented Reality Context. VIPERC@IRCDL, 50–61.

Christodoulou, Y., Konstantakis, M., Moraitou, E., Aliprantis, J., & Caridakis, G. (2019). Personalized Artistic Tour Using Semantic Web Technologies. CI@SMAP.

Gourzis, K., Alexandridis, G., Gialis, S., & Caridakis, G. (2019). Studying the Spatialities of Short-Term Rentals’ Sprawl in the Urban Fabric: The Case of Airbnb in Athens, Greece. In J. MacIntyre, I. Maglogiannis, L. Iliadis, & E. Pimenidis (Eds.), Artificial Intelligence Applications and Innovations (Vol. 560, pp. 196–207). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19909-8_17

Konstantakis, M., Kalatha, E., & Caridakis, G. (2019). Cultural Heritage, Serious Games and User Personas Based on Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences: “The Stolen Painting” Game. In A. Liapis, G. N. Yannakakis, M. Gentile, & M. Ninaus (Eds.), Games and Learning Alliance (Vol. 11899, pp. 490–500). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34350-7_47

Konstantakis, M., Aliprantis, J., Teneketzis, A., & Caridakis, G. (2018). Understanding user experience aspects in cultural heritage interaction. Proceedings of the 22nd Pan-Hellenic Conference on Informatics, 267–271. https://doi.org/10.1145/3291533.3291580

Michalakis, K., Aliprantis, J., & Caridakis, G. (2018). Visualizing the Internet of Things: Naturalizing Human-Computer Interaction by Incorporating AR Features. IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine, 7(3), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1109/MCE.2018.2797638

Kalatha, E., Aliprantis, J., Konstantakis, M., Michalakis, K., Moraitou, T., & Caridakis, G. (2018). Cultural Heritage Engagement via Serious Games: The ARCADE Augmented Reality, Context-Aware, Linked Open Data Personalized Ecosystem. 1st International CICMS Conference, 4-5 May 2018, Kusadasi, Turkey, 309.

Trichopoulos, G., Aliprantis, J., Konstantakis, M., & Caridakis, G. (2018). ARTISTS: A Virtual Reality Cultural Experience Personalized Artworks System: The “Children Concert” Painting Case Study. Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Culture & AudioVisual Challenges (DCAC-2018).

Moraitou, E., Aliprantis, J., & Caridakis, G. (2018). Semantic Preventive Conservation of Cultural Heritage Collections. Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on Semantic Web for Cultural Heritage (SW4CH 2018) at Heraklion, Crete, Greece, June 3-7, 2018.

Konstantakis, M., Aliprantis, J., Michalakis, K., & Caridakis, G. (2018). Recommending User Experiences Based on Extracted Cultural Personas for Mobile Applications - REPEAT Methodology. MobileCH@Mobile HCI.

Equipment

Intelligent Interaction Research Group has a well established laboratory with equipment that includes among others AR/VR Devices, 3D Scanning equipment and intelligent interaction devices such as Smart Table and Smart Floor. Also, a wide list of devices for IoT infrastructure is available including Arduino boards and shields, Lillypad microcontrollers, Amazon Echo devices, Belkin smart lamps and NFC tags and readers. The laboratory was equipped through regional, national and european funding projects, with special mention to PEP Project which contributed with the majority of equipment.

VR-AR Headset

3D Scanning-Printing

Smart Devices

Internet of Things (IoT)

Projects

The project concerns the creation of an innovative platform that will provide digital services and tour tools in cultural spaces (mansions) of the wider area of the Municipality of Kifissia, incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as Augmented Reality, 3D architectural diagrams and personalised tours, with the ultimate goal of creating new forms of interactive cultural experience. The object of the project is the creation of an innovative augmented reality platform, accessible from portable and fixed devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, etc.), through which the visitor will be able to browse the urban fabric under the guidance of a digital map, and to be guided to the mansions of Kifissia with the help of three-dimensional architectural diagrams that will provide condensed architectural information (history, typology, form, construction), rendered in an intelligible way.

Duration: 2023

Responding to the growing demand of museum visitors for a personalized digital tour experience, especially in the midst of the recent Covid-2019 pandemic, the v-PalM project aims to develop a platform for offering virtual guidance and education services at the Museum of Paleontology and Geology that is hosted at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. The development of the platform will be based on innovative information and communication technologies (ICT), including conversational agents, machine learning (e.g., for text processing), personalized recommenders, development of mobile applications taking advantage of gamification techniques and content digitization using 3D scanning devices. The v-PalM solution will create a Virtual Museum offering to visitors user-friendly access to the available material, so that the interested people, depending on their interests, will be able to enjoy the virtual tour services, including educational and entertainment services for the museum, focusing on cases where physical access is not possible.

Duration: 2023

Tourism has emerged as one of the country’s most important financial sectors, displaying significant growth potential each year. For better exploiting this growth and further maintaining the observed growth rates, it is necessary to interconnect the touristic product/content with the actual interests of the expected and potential tourists. STREET-LINES project focused on this need, developing a system that collects information from open tourism-based platforms and online social networks used by the visitors, generating in an automated manner recommendations for strategic planning of cultural events, designing proper support of the emerging tourist destinations, etc. More specifically, the STREET-LINES project crawls publicly available sites containing tourism-relevant content, e.g., websites of Municipalities/Prefectures, and online social media aiming to collect as many as possible open data relevant with planned events, provided from the organizers and relevant to the interests of users that are considered potential visitors.

Duration: 2023

AegeanA collected cultural content in the Region of North Aegean, operating in full compliance with the national cultural aggregator SearchCulture.gr of the National Documentation Centre and through it with the European portal of cultural content Europeana. The project developed a digital repository for the collection, organization and promotion of cultural heritage artifacts, by providing relevant services to the cultural institutions in North Aegean, as well as to other institutions of the Region related to the cultural, environmental, pedagogical development and touristic visibility of the area.

Duration: 2020-2023

CAnTi extended and enriched preservation work in the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Tiryns and includes conservation and restoration procedures for monuments, documentation of these procedures through three-dimensional representation, documentation of previous interventions, and the production of virtual and augmented reality interactive, educational applications that will project and spatiotemporally visualize how maintenance, restoration and protection was applied on the monuments and was implemented in the form of two Open Labs that operated both in the archaeological site and in the facilities of the Nafplio Archaeological Museum.

Duration: 2020 – 2023

This project developed the innovative PaloAnalytics platform that allows companies and organizations, which operate in many countries, to monitor and analyze in depth the markets’ interest to their products and successfully plan their marketing and communication strategy with data and insights collected from all the local media and presented in a common language, English.

Duration: 2018 – 2021

TRACCE project designed and developed an innovative ubiquitous platform for cultural routes, and different computing devices, using cultural inventory of travelogue literature, the digital material of today’s travellers and new information and communication technology. It offers cultural interpretation services that combine the visit of an area with the acquaintance of the historically recorded and the contemporary touring experience.

Duration: 2018 – 2021

John Aliprantis and Eirini Kalatha have been awarded with a scholarship for their PhD research from the “1st Call for PhD Scholarships by HFRI” – “Grant Codes 234 and 1347”, from the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) and the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI).

Duration: 2017 – 2019

The Digital Cultural Heritage Management Center is available for cultural heritage institutions as well for other local public organizations related to the cultural, environmental or tourist promotion of their region. The center provides the necessary equipment, knowledge and support, assisting on promoting heritage on a bigger and wider audience.

Duration: 2019 – 2022