
Director, KAIST UVR Lab.
Professor, KAIST GSCT
Woontack Woo is a Professor in the Graduate School of Culture Technology (GSCT) at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea. He also has been the Vice President of the Korean Institute of Next Generation Computing (since 2011), Vice Chair of the CG&I Society in the Korean Institute of Information Scientists and Engineers (since 2010), Vice President of the HCI Society of Korea (since 2008) and Vice President of the Korea Computer Graphics Society (since 2008). He received his BS in Electronics Engineering from Kyungpook National University (KNU, Daegu, Korea) in 1989 and his MS in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH, Pohang, Korea) in 1991. In 1998, he received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering-Systems from University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA. In 1999, as an invited Researcher, he joined Advanced Telecommunications Research (ATR), Kyoto, Japan. From Feb. 2001 to Feb. 2012, he served as a Professor in the School of Information and Communications (SIC) and Director of Culture Technology Institute (CTI) at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Korea. The main thrust of his research has been implementing ubiquitous virtual reality in smart space, which includes Context-aware Augmented Reality, 3D Vision, HCI, and Culture Technology. He coined the terminology, “ubiquitous virtual reality (UVR)” and initiated UVR Lab at GIST in 2001. Since then he has developed various augmented reality applications such as “DigiLog Books, DigiLog Miniatures and DogiLog Spaces” and published more than 300 papers in major journals and conferences.
Research Interest
- 3D Computer Vision, HCI, Affective Computing for Augmented Reality
- Ubiquitous Virtual Reality
- Culture Technology
Education
- 1998 Ph.D. Electrical Engineering-Systems, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- 1991 M.S. Electronics & Electrical Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, Korea
- 1989 B.S. Electronics Engineering, KNU, Daegu, Korea
Activities and Work Experience
- 2012-Current, Professor, GSCT, KAIST, Daejeon, Korea
- 2015-Current, Director, Augmented Human Research Center,?KAIST, Daejeon, Korea
- 2014-Current, Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, KAIST,??Daejeon, Korea
- 2012, Research Consultant, Microsoft Research, Redmond, USA
- 2005-2012, Director, GIST Culture Technology Institute, Gwangju, Korea
- 2001-2012, Professor, GIST, Gwangju, Korea
- 1999-2001, Invited Researcher, ATR, Kyoto, Japan
- 1993-1999, Research Assistant & Associate, SIPI & IMSC, USC, LA, CA, USA
- 1991-1992, Researcher, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Kiheung, Korea
- 1989-1991, Research Assistant, POSTECH, Pohang, Korea
- 1989-1989, Intern Researcher, ETRI, Daejeon, Korea
Honors and Awards
- 2014, (yJang) Best Paper award in HCII 2014
- 2014, (tHa) Best Presentation award in KJMR 2014
- 2013, (tHa) People’s Choice (Demo) award in VR2013
- 2012, (jHan) Best paper award in KHCI 2012
- 2011, (wLee) Honorable mention in ICAT 2011
- 2011, (hcKim) Best presentation award in 38th KIISE Spring Conference
- 2011, (cShin) Best paper award (장려상) in KHCI 2011
- 2010, (hYoon) Best paper award in UIC 2010
- 2009, (jPark) Best paper award in KING PC 2009 Fall Conference
- 2009, (ktHa) Best paper award in KING PC 2009 Spring Conference
- 2009, (kKim) Best paper award in KING PC 2009 Spring Conference
- 2009, (kKim) Best Yooung Research Award in ICEC 2009
- 2008, (kYun) Best paper award in ACM International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology (ACE)
- 2007, (W.Lee) Best paper award in International Symposium on Ubiquitous VR
- 2006, (T.Ha) Best presentation award in 60th IEEK Spring Conference
- 2005, (Sj.Oh) Best presentation award in 32th KIISE Spring Conference
- 2004, (T.Ha) Best presentation award in 30th KIISE Spring Conference
- 2000, Best Research Award at ATR, Kyoto, Japan
- 1999, Bronze Award in the 5th Humantech Thesis Prize by Samsung Electronics, Korea
- 1991, First Award in DSP Education, Samsung, Kiheung, Korea
Professional & Social Activities
- 2014-2015 한국 HCI 학회장
- 2011-현재 KAIST CT 대학원 운영위원
- 2011-현재 한국차세대컴퓨팅학회 부회장
- 2010-현재 한국정보과학회 CGI 소사이어티 부회장
- 2008-현재 한국 CG학회 부회장
- 2012-2014 대한전자공학회 컴퓨터소사이어티 부회장
- 2012-2013 대한전자공학회 컴퓨터소사이어티 유비쿼터스시스템 연구회 위원장
- 2008-2013 한국 HCI 학회 부회장
- 2009-2010, 2015 한국정보과학회 이사
- 2008-2010 한국차세대컴퓨팅학회 이사
- 2008-2010 한국정보과학회 sigHCI 운영위원장
- 2008, 2015 대한전자공학회 컴퓨터소사이어티 이사
- 2007, 2009, 2010 한국멀티미디어학회 이사
- 2007-2008 KAIST CT 대학원 운영위원
- 2006-2008 광주시정보화추진위원
- 2007-2008 아시아문화중심도시 조성위원회 2기 조성위원
- 2006-2007 한국 HCI 학회 기획담당 이사
- Editorial board, 2015- : Springer Augmented Human Research
- Guest co-Editor, 2009-2010: Springer Virtual Reality: Special Issue on Virtual Reality and Cultural Technology
- Guest co-Editor, 2009: of Research and Practice in Information Technology: Special Issue on Ubiquitous Virtual Reality
- Guest Associate Editor, 2006: The IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems: Special Section on Artificial Reality and Telexistence
- 편집위원, 2006-2014 : International Journal of Virtual Reality (IJVR)
- 편집위원, 2005-2011 우리춤, 2008- 정보과학회지, 2009- 멀티미디어학회지
- Technical Program Committee Co-chairs: ACM AH 2016, ACM CHI 2015, KCC 2012, Springer UIC 2011, Springer ICEC 2009, ACM ubiComp 2008, ICAT 2004, KHCI 2004
Publications
- Doctoral Dissertation: Rate-Distortion based Dependent Coding for Stereo Image/Video: Disparity Estimation and Dependent Bit Allocation, USC, LA, CA, USA, 1998
- MS Thesis: Unification Model of Early Vision Using Neural Networks and Probabilistic Theory, Postech, Pohang, Korea, 1991
- MS Academic Search?http://bit.ly/wYTdfS
- Google Citation?http://bit.ly/whbbpM
- International Journals in 2015
- Youngkyoon Jang,?Seung-Tak Noh, Hyung Jin Chang,?Tae-Kyun?Kim, Woontack Woo, “3D Finger CAPE: Clicking Action and Position Estimation under Self-Occlusions in Egocentric Viewpoint,”?IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), vol. 21, no. 4, April 2015.
- Ahyoung Choi, Celso M. de Melo, Peter Khooshabeh, Woontack Woo, Jonathan Gratch, “Physiological evidence for a dual process model of the social effects of emotion in computers?,”?International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Vol.74, pp.41?53, Jan. 2015
- International Journals in 2014
- Kiyoung Kim, Noh-young Park, Woontack Woo, “Vision-based all-in-one solution for augmented reality and its storytelling applications,”?Springer – The Visual Computer, Vol.30, No.4, pp.417-429, Apr. 2014
- Jonghyun Han, Hedda R Schmidtke, Xing Xie, Woontack Woo, “Adaptive content recommendation for mobile users: Ordering recommendations using a hierarchical context model with granularity,”?Pervasive and Mobile Computing, Vol.13, pp.85-98, Aug. 2014
- International Journals in 2013
- Minkyung Lee, Mark Billinghurst, Woonhyuk Baek, Richard Green, Woontack Woo, “A usability study of multimodal input in an augmented reality environment,”?Springer – Virtual Reality, Vol.17, No.4, pp.293-305, Nov. 2013
- Hyejin Kim, Gerhard Reitmayr, Woontack Woo,“IMAF: in situ indoor modeling and annotation framework on mobile phones,”?Springer – Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, Vol.17, No.3, pp.571-582, Mar. 2013
- Jonghyun Han, Xing Xie, Woontack Woo,“Context-based microblog browsing for mobile users,”?Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments, Vol.5, No.1, pp.945-954, Jan. 2013
- International Journals in 2012
- Kiyoung Kim, Vincent Lepetitb, Woontack Woo, “Real-time?interactive modeling and scalable multiple object tracking for AR,” Computers?& Graphics, Vol.36, No.8, pp.945-954, Dec. 2012
- Youngmin Park, Vincent Lepetit, Woontack Woo, “Handling Motion-Blur in 3D Tracking and Rendering for Augmented Reality,”?IEEE Transactions on?Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG),?18 (9), 1449-1459,?2012.
- Ahyoung Choi, Celso De Melo, Woontack Woo, Jonathan Gratch,“Affective engagement to emotional facial expressions of embodied social?agents in a decision?making game,” Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds,Vol.23, No.3-4, pp.331-342, May-Aug. 2012.
- Hyejin Kim,?Gerhard Reitmayr?and?Woontack Woo, “IMAF: in situ indoor modeling and annotation framework on mobile phones,” Springer?Personal and Ubiquitous Computing?2012,?DOI:?10.1007/s00779-012-0516-3
- Hyoseok Yoon,?Yu Zheng,?Xing Xie?and?Woontack Woo, “Social itinerary recommendation from user-generated digital trails,” Springer?Personal and Ubiquitous Computing,?Volume 16, Number 5, Pages 469-484, June 2012.
- Taejin Ha, Mark Billinghurst, Woontack Woo, “An interactive 3D movement path manipulation method in an augmented reality environment,”?Elsevier?Interacting with Computers,?Volume 24, Issue 1,?Pages 10?24,?January 2012.
- International?Journals?in 2011
- Youngmin Park; Lepetit, V.;?Woontack?Woo, “Extended Keyframe Detection with Stable Tracking for Multiple 3D Object Tracking,”?IEEE Transactions on?Visualization and Computer Graphics,?Volume: 17 ,?Issue: 11,??Page(s): 1728 – 1735,?November?2011.
- Taejin Ha,?Youngho Lee?and?Woontack Woo, “Digilog book for temple bell tolling experience based on interactive augmented reality,” Springer?Virtual Reality, 2011,?Volume 15, Number 4, Pages 295-309,?November?2011.
- Wonwoo Lee; Youngmin Park; Lepetit, V.;?Woontack?Woo, “Video-Based In Situ Tagging on Mobile Phones,” IEEE?Transactions on?Circuits and Systems for Video Technology?(CSVT),?Volume: 21 ,?Issue: 10, ?Page(s): 1487 – 1496, 2011.
- Wonwoo Lee;?Woontack?Woo; Boyer, E., “Silhouette Segmentation in Multiple Views,”?IEEE Transactions on?Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence (PAMI),?Volume: 33 ,?Issue: 7,?Page(s): 1429 – 1441,?July?2011.
- Youngjung Suh,?Choonsung Shin,?Woontack Woo,?Steven Dow?and?Blair MacIntyre, “Enhancing and evaluating users’ social experience with a mobile phone guide applied to cultural heritage,”?Springer?Personal and Ubiquitous Computing,?Volume 15, Number 6, Pages 649-665,?August?2011.
- Hyeongmook Lee,?Mark Billinghurst?and?Woontack Woo, “Two-handed tangible interaction techniques for composing augmented blocks,” Springer?Virtual Reality,?Volume 15, Numbers 2-3, Pages 133-146,?June?2011.
- Hyoseok Yoon, Anton van den Hengel, Gerhard Reitmayr, Joshua Lifton, Sung-Hee Lee, and Woontack Woo, “Toward a Digital Ecosystem: International Symposium on Ubiquitous Virtual Reality 2010,”??IEEE?Pervasive Computing,?Volume: 10 ,?Issue: 2,?Page(s): 90 – 93,?April?2011.
- Ahyoung Choi, Woontack Woo, “Multiple-criteria decision making based on probabilistic estimation with contextual information for physiological signal monitoring,”?International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making,?Volume:10, Issue: 1, pp. 109-120,?January?2011.
- International Journals in 2010
- Yoosoo Oh,?Ahyoung Choi?and?Woontack Woo, “u-BabSang: a context-aware food recommendation system,” Springer?The Journal of Supercomputing,?Volume 54, Number 1, Pages 61-81,?October?2010.
- Kiyoung Kim,?Vincent Lepetit?and?Woontack Woo, “Scalable real-time planar targets tracking for digilog books,” Springer?The Visual Computer, 2010,?Volume 26, Numbers 6-8, Pages 1145-1154,?June?2010
- Sejin Oh,?Woonhyuk Baek,?Woontack Woo, “Synthetic vision-based perceptual attention for augmented reality agents,”?Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds?, Volume 21, Issue 3?4,?Pages 463-472, May 2010.
- Yoosoo Oh; Jonghyun Han;?Woontack?Woo, “A context management architecture for large-scale smart environments,”?IEEE?Communications Magazine,?Volume: 48 ,?Issue: 3,?Page(s): 118 – 126, 2010.
- Lee, Wonwoo; Kr?ger, Antonio; Thomas, Bruce H.; Wagner, Daniel; Pulli, Kari; Woo,?Woontack, “International Symposium on Ubiquitous Virtual Reality 2009,” IEEE?Pervasive Computing,?Volume: 9 ,?Issue: 2,?Page(s): 78 – 80, April 2010.
- Ahyoung Choi,?Woontack Woo, “DAILY PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNAL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR FOSTERING SOCIAL WELL-BEING IN SMART SPACES,”?Cybernetics and Systems, Volume 41, Issue 3,?Pages 262-279,?March 2010.
- Choonsung Shin,?Anind K. Dey,?Woontack Woo, “OWARD COMBINING AUTOMATIC RESOLUTION WITH SOCIAL MEDIATION FOR RESOLVING MULTIUSER CONFLICTS,”?Cybernetics and Systems,?Volume 41, Issue 2,?Pages 146-166,?February 2010.
- International Journals in 2009
- J. Leitner,?M. Haller,?K. Yun,?W. Woo,?M. Sugimoto,?M. Inami,?A. D. Cheok,?H. D. Been-Lirn, “Physical interfaces for tabletop games,”?Computers in Entertainment (CIE)?, Volume 7 Issue 4,?pages 1-21, ?December 2009.
- Chinta Rambabu,?Kiyoung Kim?and?Woontack Woo, “Fast and accurate extraction of moving object silhouette for personalized Virtual Reality Studio @ Home,” Springer?Journal of Real-Time Image Processing,?Volume 4, Number 4, Pages 317-328, 2009.
- Youngjung Suh; Choonsung Shin;?Woontack?Woo, “A mobile phone guide: spatial, personal, and social experience for cultural heritage,”?IEEE Transactions on?Consumer Electronics,?Volume: 55 ,?Issue: 4,?Page(s): 2356 – 2364, 2009.
- Choonsung Shin;?Woontack?Woo, “Socially aware tv program recommender for multiple viewers,”?IEEE Transactions on?Consumer Electronics,?Volume: 55 ,?Issue: 2,?Page(s): 927 – 932, 2009.
- Changgu Kang, Yoosoo Oh, and Woontack Woo. “Widget-Based simulator for testing smart space,”?Springer?Transactions on Edutainment III, pages 59-69,?January 2009.
- International Journals in 2008
- Hyoseok Yoon;?Woontack?Woo, “Design and implementation of a universal appliance controller based on selective interaction modes,”?IEEE Transactions on?Consumer Electronics,?Volume: 54 ,?Issue: 4,?Page(s): 1722 – 1729, 2008.
- Hong, Dongpyo; H?llerer, Tobias; Haller, Michael; Takemura, Haruo; Cheok, Adrian David; Kim, Gerard Jounghyun; Billinghurst, Mark; Woo,?Woontack; Hornecker, Eva; Jacob, Robert J.K.; Hummels, Caroline; Ullmer, Brygg; Schmidt, Albrecht; van den Hoven, Elise; Mazalek, Ali, “Advances in Tangible Interaction and Ubiquitous Virtual Reality,”??IEEE?Pervasive Computing,?Volume: 7 ,?Issue: 2,?Page(s): 90 – 96. April 2008.
- Sejin Oh,?Woontack Woo, “ARGarden: augmented edutainment system with a learning companion,” Springer?Transactions on edutainment I,?Pages 40-50,?January 2008.
- Sewon Na,?Mark Billinghurst,?Woontack Woo, “TMAR: extension of a tabletop interface using mobile augmented reality,”?Springer?Transactions on edutainment I,?Pages 96-106,?January 2008.
- International Journals in 2007
- Youngho Lee, Woontack?Woo, “Interactive edutainment system with enhanced personalized user interface framework,”?IEEE Transactions on?Consumer Electronics,?Volume: 53 ,?Issue: 2,??Page(s): 424 – 432, 2007.
- Youngho Lee,?Sejin Oh,?Youngjung Suh,?Seiie Jang,?Woontack Woo, “Enhanced Framework for a Personalized User Interface Based on a Unified Context-Aware Application Model for Virtual Environments,”?IEICE – Transactions on Information and Systems?, Volume E90-D Issue 6,?Pages 994-997,?June 2007.
- International Journals in 2006
- Seiie Jang,?Woontack Woo, “Framework for Personalized User Interface by Sharing User-Centric Context between Real andVirtual Environments,“?IEICE – Transactions on Information and Systems?, Volume E89-D Issue 5,?Pages 1694-1701,?May 2006.
- Sejin Oh,?Woontack Woo, “Tangible Media Control System for Intuitive Interactions with Multimedia Contents,”?IEICE – Transactions on Information and Systems?, Volume E89-D Issue 1,?Pages 53-61,?January 2006.
- Sehwan Kim,?Woontack Woo, “Registration of Partial 3D Point Clouds Acquired from a Multi-view Camera for Indoor Scene Reconstruction,”?IEICE – Transactions on Information and Systems?, Volume E89-D Issue 1,?Pages?62-72,?January 2006.
- Dongpyo Hong,?Woontack Woo, “A Framework for Virtual Reality with Tangible Augmented Reality-Based User Interface,”??IEICE – Transactions on Information and Systems?, Volume E89-D Issue 1,?Pages 45-52,?January 2006.
- International Journals in 2000
- Woontack?Woo; Ortega, A., “Overlapped block disparity compensation with adaptive windows for stereo image coding,”?IEEE Transactions on?Circuits and Systems for Video Technology (CSVT),?Volume: 10 ,?Issue: 2,?Page(s): 194 – 200, 2000.
- International Journals in 1999
- Woontack?Woo; Ortega, A., “Optimal blockwise dependent quantization for stereo image coding,”??IEEE Transactions on?Circuits and Systems for Video Technology (CSVT),?Volume: 9 ,?Issue: 6, ?Page(s): 861 – 867, 1999.