2025-11-07: Invited Talks on Eye-Tracking Research at Magdeburg-Stendal University, Germany

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This summer, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver an invited talk at the Digital Business Day event organized by the SPiRIT research group at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Germany. I was invited for this talk by Dr. Michael Herzog, head of the SPiRIT research group, guest faculty at the Computer Science department at ODU, collaborator with Neuro-Information Retrieval and Data Science (NIRDS) lab, and good friend of Web Science and Digital Libraries (WS-DL) research group. This was my second visit to Magdeburg-Stendal University to present our latest eye-tracking research to the SPiRIT research group.

Digital Day Event at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Summer 2025

First Visit: SPiRIT Lecture Series (Summer 2023)

In summer 2023, I traveled to Germany to attend the Eye Tracking Research and Applications (ETRA) 2023 conference held in Tübingen, Germany. Following the conference, I extended my trip to eastern Germany to visit Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, as I was warmly invited by Dr. Herzog to deliver a talk as part of the SPiRIT Lecture Series. The SPiRIT Lecture Series is a highly respected forum for academic discussions in the Human-Computer Interaction field.
My talk centered on our broader research theme, ‘Evaluating Human Eye Features for Objective Measurement of Working Memory Capacity’, with a focus on a project titled ‘Believe It or Not: Exploring Human Perception While Reading Fake and Real News Articles.’ In this work, I discussed how eye-movement analysis can provide insights into human visual and cognitive behavior in relation to the truthfulness and believability of news. I shared our research findings on advanced eye-gaze measures, highlighting how people's visual scanning patterns, attention across different Areas of Interests (AOIs), and cognitive load varies based on the truthfulness and perceived believability of new content.

Flyer for my talk at the SPiRIT Lecture Series, Summer 2023

I concluded my talk by talking about our WS-DL research group and NIRDS Lab. I highlighted our research outreach events, such as Trick or Research and ODU Admitted Student Day, where we demonstrate engaging eye-tracking experiments to participants. 

Post-session meetup at the Herrenkrug Campus, Magdeburg in Summer 2023



Second Visit: Digital Business Day Event (Summer 2025)

This summer, I lived in Bonn, Germany, doing a summer research internship through DAAD RISE Professional Program. During this time, I visited Magdeburg for the second time, as per the invitation by Dr. Herzog. I participated in the Digital Business Day event which took place in Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. This event was organized under the motto "Ethics in Digital Innovation – Business meets Maker Education", where the students from the digital business program presented the results of their semester projects. 

Dr. Herzog briefly introduced about me, our research group, and our eye tracking research to the audience. He also talked about his collaborations with us and his interactions with the WS-DL members.

Followed by his introduction, I had the privilege of delivering the first speech of the event, on the title “Gaze-Based Virtual Reality for Enhanced User Experience in Business”. I started the talk by discussing the existing use of Virtual Reality (VR) and eye tracking technology in business applications. I discussed the Eye-Tracking-Based Virtual Reality (VR) technology and its application and potential use cases in the business domain. I talked about how we can analyze users' visual behavior to improve user experience in business applications. I then talked about our proposed framework for measuring visual attention in the VR using a consumer-grade eye-tracking-enabled Meta Quest Pro VR headset and eye-tracking measures.
The highlight of the Digital Business Day was the Student Poster-Madness session. Students from the digital business program presented their semester projects through posters and prototypes of the innovative products they had designed. I was particularly impressed by how they planned, designed, and built their prototypes using 3D printing technology. I was honored to serve as one of the judges evaluating their posters, designs, and prototypes.


Exploring Eastern Germany

The trips to Magdeburg also offered me with a wonderful opportunity to explore eastern Germany. We visited a several historical landmarks in Magdeburg, including the iconic Magdeburg Cathedral — the oldest Gothic cathedral in the country — and Bastion Cleve — the south-eastern end of the former fortress of Magdeburg. On our way back to Potsdam, we stopped at the Magdeburg Water Bridge, the largest canal bridge in Europe.

Some of the landmarks I visited in Magdeburg

The most unforgettable moment of these trips was the scenic bike ride through Potsdam with Dr. Herzog, enjoying the city’s historic landmarks. We made stops at beautiful Sanssouci Palace, Orangery Palace, Chinese House in the Sanssouci Park. Dr. Herzog was an amazing host and tour guide throughout these trips, sharing his deep knowledge of the history of landmarks we visited.

Exploring Potsdam by bike — a stop in front of the iconic Sanssouci Palace

Dr. Herzog and his wife warmly welcomed me into their home during both trips, where I had the chance to enjoy a variety of delicious cuisines and authentic Germany dishes. I also tried white asparagus for the very first time — a beloved springtime delicacy in Germany. 

The wonderful hosts, Dr. Herzog and his wife

During my visit this summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a performance of the renowned German play Der tollste Tag by Peter Turrini at the Hans Otto Theater, where Dr. Herzog’s wife, Mrs. Rita, gave an amazing piano performance. Although the play was performed in German, which I’m only beginning to learn, I found the experience captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor theater’s atmosphere by the river at sunset and the beautiful music.

Der tollste Tag Play at the Hans Otto Theater, Potsdam

My visits to Magdeburg-Stendal University not only gave me opportunities to present our eye-tracking research, but also allowed me the experience of delivering talks and networking with scholars from international academic institutions. Aside from the professional experiences, I also managed to cross a few more European cities off my bucket list thanks to these trips, making them both rewarding and transformative.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Herzog for his invitations, hospitality, and for showing me the best of Magdeburg and Potsdam during my stay. He and his wife, Mrs. Rita, warmly welcomed me into their home and shared so much of Germany’s culture and spirit.

On behalf of WS-DL research group, Computer Science department, ODU, and myself, I also extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Herzog, SPiRIT lab team, and Magdeburg-Stendal University, for organizing these wonderful opportunities for us over years.

-- Yasasi Abeysinghe (@Yasasi_Abey)

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