ACM CHI 2027 Forthcoming Paper & Dedicated Podcast Feature
Authored 'Ackerman: Digital Twin for Online Interactions, Learning, and Dialogue' (ACM CHI 2027). Featured by the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies and explored in-depth on the Ackerman Center Podcast (Episode 1759513727).
Developed at the VAST Lab for the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies, this project reconstructs the physical center’s research archives, lecture spaces, and museum exhibits into an accessible, interactive digital twin. The platform serves as an international educational bridge, allowing students, researchers, and survivors across the globe to engage in guided tours, symposiums, and historical research.
Spatial Archival Preservation
The Ackerman Center holds unique archival records, rare survivor testimony collections, and historical artifacts. The digital twin digitizes these materials into interactive 3D displays where users can inspect documents, listen to curated oral histories, and attend live synchronous lectures hosted by faculty.
Multi-Platform Access: Web, PC & VR
To ensure equity of access across educational demographics:
- WebXR Browser Client: Optimized for low-bandwidth Chromebooks and university computer labs without requiring discrete GPUs.
- High-Fidelity PC & VR Client: Unreal Engine 5 build utilizing Lumen dynamic lighting for photorealistic gallery presentations.
Press, Podcast & Publications
- Ackerman Center News Feature — Official digital twin launch report
- Ackerman Center Podcast — In-depth interview on digital humanities, spatial preservation, and survivor narratives
- ACM CHI 2027 Publication: Ackerman: Digital Twin for Online Interactions, Learning, and Dialogue