The Emerging Analytics Center (EAC) took center stage at UA Little Rock’s inaugural AI Tech Talk on Thursday, April 24, spotlighting a diverse array of interdisciplinary projects powered by artificial intelligence. Held in the EIT Auditorium, the event brought together faculty, graduate students, and researchers from across campus to explore how AI is reshaping their fields.
EAC’s segment opened with Thomas Coffin, supported by computer science graduate students Mohammad Jahed Murad Sunny and Jayasri Sai Nikitha Guthula. Together, they offered a compelling look into the center’s ongoing efforts to integrate AI with immersive virtual environments.
Sunny’s presentation explored how AI enhances performance in high-stakes virtual training scenarios—such as surgical simulations—by monitoring for disruptions and providing real-time corrective feedback. He emphasized AI’s role as a collaborative tool, saying, “Students should be encouraged to use AI feedback thoughtfully, critically evaluating it to support their own judgment and decision-making processes.”
Guthula followed with her research on privacy-preserving techniques for motion telemetry in VR. She highlighted how biometric and behavioral data can be responsibly leveraged without compromising user privacy. “We’re designing systems that prioritize user privacy while still taking advantage of the rich data VR provides,” she explained, crediting her growth at the EAC to “great mentorship and access to cutting-edge tools—an ideal environment for emerging researchers.”
Later in the session, Ph.D. student Atit Kharel presented AI-Powered Virtual Reality, introducing DataEcho, a web-based platform that collects data from immersive applications and enables interactive 3D replays of VR sessions in a browser. “Our system tracks gaze patterns and user interactions, then applies AI techniques to derive persistent insights across sessions,” Kharel noted. “This allows users to track their development and better understand their behavior in virtual environments.”
Sehvon Awais rounded out the EAC contributions by presenting Hey Charlie, an AI-powered therapeutic chatbot designed for couples counseling. By combining established counseling strategies with real-time emotional analysis from voice and text, Hey Charlie offers emotionally aware and culturally sensitive support both during and between sessions. Awais emphasized that “the companion dashboard also assists counselors by tracking emotional patterns and communication trends—bridging the gap between human insight and AI-driven analysis.”
The EAC’s presentations underscored the center’s leadership in combining AI with virtual reality, data analytics, and human-centered design to address real-world challenges. The AI Tech Talk concluded with coffee, cookies, and informal conversations, fostering collaboration and fresh ideas across departments. The event not only celebrated technological innovation but also honored the vibrant community of thinkers driving it forward.
