Computer Animation &
Social Agents 2021

Welcome to the 34th International Conference on Computer Animation and Social Agents (CASA 2021), that will be held online (from Ottawa) on July 15-17, 2021. The conference guidance of the Computer Graphics Society (CGS)

Conference Schedule

Registration
July 15th – 17th, 2021
  Ottawa (EST/GMT-4) - 7am to 1pm
  Asia (BJT/GMT+8) - 7pm to 1am
  Europe (CET/GMT+2) - 1pm to 7pm

Latest News

Technical Program

Now available!

Virtual Conference!

Via Zoom Webinar for Presentation and Discord for Discussion

Keynote Speakers Announced

Our keynote speakers and their talk titles have been announced


About the conference

CASA is the oldest international conference in computer animation and social agents in the world. It was founded in Geneva in 1988 under the name of Computer Animation (CA). In the last past ten years, CASA was held in Switzerland (2006), Belgium (2007), Korea (2008), Netherlands (2009), France (2010), China (2011), Singapore (2012), Turkey (2013), United States (2014), Singapore (2015), Switzerland (2016), Korea (2017), China (2018), France (2019), and UK (2020).

Important Notice

There is a conference with a similar name called ICCASA 2021 which will take place in multiple events across 2021 that claims to an International Conference on Computer Animation and Social Agents. This conference is not the official CASA conference. It is not associated with or connected with CASA 2021.

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Academy_of_Science,_Engineering_and_Technology

Please note that no paper submitted to ICCASA 2021 will be published in the Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds journal. Only accepted papers submitted to CASA 2021 in Ottawa will be published in the journal.

Keynote Speakers

Mark Billinghurst

Empathic Computing Laboratory, University of South Australia, Auckland Bioengineering Institute


Talk Title: Empathic Computing and Social Agents
(July 15th)



Abstract: The field of Empathic Computing explores how to develop systems that better enable people to connect with each other, using technology such as AR, VR and physiological sensing to share user surroundings and emotional state. This presentation explores how Empathic Computing can be used to inform the development of Social Agents. This is particularly important as more people are connecting in social AR and VR experiences, and so are being represented as virtual characters, and there is a growing opportunity for interaction between real people and agent based characters. Examples will be shown from research at the Empathic Computing Laboratory and other leading research groups and companies, and directions discussed for future research.

Michiel van de Panne

Computer Science, University of British Columbia




Talk Title: Reinforcement Learning for Realistic Human Movement
(July 16th)



Abstract: The creation of characters that can move with purpose and skill in everyday environments is a longstanding goal of character animation. Is reinforcement learning the right method for achieving this goal? When will we be able to populate virtual worlds with intelligent self-animating characters? Will we see a unification of the methods used in animation, robotics, biomechanics, and machine learning? In this talk I review the basics of reinforcement learning, highlight the progress achieved over the past five years, and outline some of the challenging problems that remain to be solved.

Victoria Interrante

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota



Talk Title: Embodiment, Presence, and Spatial Perception in Immersive Architectural Environments
(July 17th)


Abstract: Virtual Reality technology has the potential to enable transformative advances in a wide variety of application areas. The research that will be presented in this talk is motivated by applications in architectural design, where virtual humans — in particular, virtual self-avatars, virtual human agents, and virtual avatar representations of other real people — can facilitate improved outcomes. This talk will cover issues related to the impact of avatars and agents on spatial perception accuracy, co-presence, and interpersonal trust during design negotiations in virtual architectural environments, including a consideration of the various impacts of different technological approaches to the instantiation of virtual embodiments.


Important Dates

Conference - 15th → 17th July 2021

Camera Ready - 30th April 2021

Nofication of Acceptance - 2nd April 2021 6th April 2021

Technical Paper Deadline - 27th February 2021 6th March 2021


Our Sponsors

We would love to thank our amazing sponsors. We couldn't have done this without their support!



Contact Us

Have any questions? Give us a call or send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible!