SDSS 2022: Keynote 2: Professors Shih-Lung Shaw & Daniel Sui
Channel: UCSB Center for Spatial Studies
Date: 2022-09-29

Recorded during the Spatial Data Science Symposium (SDSS 2022), September 22-23, 2022, online

Keynote 2: Professors Shih-Lung Shaw & Daniel Sui
A Space-Place Framework for Human Dynamics Research in A Hybrid Physical–Virtual World: Are we ready for a quantum leap in the emerging metaverse?

Abstract:
We now live in a hybrid physical-virtual world enabled by modern technologies where we work, shop, and socialize with others in both physical and virtual spaces. With the emerging metaverse based on immersive virtual reality, human dynamics, which refers to all forms of human activities and interactions, are likely to undergo further transformations in the coming years. The new human dynamics will be a seamless integration of physical and virtual activities. Built on our earlier work in human dynamics research, we argue that the current discussions in spatial data science for human dynamics research are conceptually constrained by their physical and virtual silos. The new hybrid physical-virtual approach we are envisioning aims to transcend the simplistic dichotomy by integrating both space and place perspectives. This presentation also draws on basic concepts in quantum theory and earlier discussions on their potential applications in geography and GIScience to espouse a quantum turn in exploring the human dynamics in a hybrid physical-virtual world. It explores how concepts, methods, and understandings from the quantum physics and computing can be translated into addressing human dynamics research under a Space-Place (Splatial) GIScience framework.

September 23

Symposium website: http://sdss2022.spatial-data-science.net/