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Highlights of the 17th Annual CyberPsychology & CyberTherapy Conference

  • Posted On: 27th May 2014
Conference Chair B.K. Wiederhold, Keynote Speaker R. Madelin, & iACTOR President G. Riva

Conference Chair B.K. Wiederhold, Keynote Speaker R. Madelin, & iACTOR President G. Riva

The 17th Annual CyberPsychology & CyberTherapy Conference: Experience the Future of Health & Well-Being (CYBER17), the official conference of the International Association of CyberPsychology, Training & Rehabilitation (iACTOR) was held September 25-28, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium. Prominent academic representatives from Europe, North America, and Asia served as Scientific Chairs and on its Scientific Committee. iACToR’s Secretary General, Professor Brenda K. Wiederhold was the Conference Chair.

CYBER17 was truly an international success with 140 attendees from a multitude of disciplines and more than 20 countries. By locating the conference in Europe’s capital, CYBER17 provided a unique opportunity to raise the conference’s visibility and highlight the importance of technology and healthcare research. The presentations and discussions emphasized the need to enhance public awareness of how technology can overcome obstacles and increase access to top quality healthcare for all citizens.

A happy audience at one of the many symposia

A happy audience at one of the many symposia

CYBER17’s theme, Experience the Future of Health & Well-Being, explored the uses of advanced technologies through four main focus areas. First, the impact of technologies as tools being used in training, therapy, rehabilitation, and education for the improvement of the quality and availability of healthcare. Second, the influence of new technologies that furthers the investigation into how new technologies are influencing behaviour and society through the use of positive technology. Third, the imprint of social networking which explores its effects on individual behaviour and societal relations. Lastly, CYBER17 focused on the introduction of new technologies and terms on psychological aspects of areas influenced by technology such as; cyberfashion, cyberadvertising, and cyberstalkin.

Keynote Address by Robert Madelin (DG-CONNECT)

Keynote Address by Robert Madelin (DG-CONNECT)

Under the direction of Workshop Chair Stéphane Bouchard, CYBER17 kicked off with pre-conference workshops on Tuesday, the 25th of September. The workshops included a wide range of topics such as mobile technology for wellbeing, VR for mental health and brain computer interfaces.

The conference officially began on Wednesday, the 26th of September with a keynote address by Robert Madelin, Director-General of the European Commission’s Communications Network, Content & Technology Directorate (DG CONNECT) who spoke on “Cyberpsychology and Europe’s Digital Futures.” The second keynote speaker was Mary Baker, President of the European Brain Council, who gave a presentation on “Societal Challenges Facing Europe.“

Mariano Alcañiz receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award

Mariano Alcañiz receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award

The first symposium, Digital Societal Platforms, was chaired by Ilias Iakovidis and Peter Wintlev-Jensen, ICT for Digital Societal Platforms at the European Commission. This was followed by Health and Well-Being presentations which were chaired by Peteris Zilgalvis and Terje Peetso from the ICT for Health and Wellbeing Unit. A PTSD symposia was chaired by Colonel Carl Castro of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.

Day 1 concluded with a poster session and Cyberarium. The poster session was an opportunity for developers and scientists to demonstrate their work and converse, one-on-one, with interested spectators and colleagues. The Cyberarium dedicated time for researchers to present their prototypes and for participants to experience their colleagues’ research, generating valuable feedback. After the scientific program, participants were invited to a welcome reception at Brussels Town Hall located in the historic Grand Place. Other conference highlights included a Gala Dinner that took place at Le Chalet Robinson and an awards ceremony.

VR demo at the Cyberarium

VR demo at the Cyberarium

Four students were presented with the Young Minds Research Award; Yoon Jung Choi, Haesol Hwang, Elisa Postrach and Maryan Ziekle. The 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Mariano Alcañiz for his outstanding work in the field. The New Investigator Award was given to Pietro Cipresso.

From the full day of pre-conference workshops to the groundbreaking scientific program, CYBER17 continued its role as the leading conference in designing the future of cyberpsychology and healthcare. It is with sincere appreciation and gratitude that we thank those who made this conference possible. CYBER17’s Scientific Committee Chairs, Professors Rosa Marie Baños, Willem-Paul Brinkman and Giuseppe Riva, were instrumental in providing exceptional scientific and social programs. The conference was also graciously sponsored by institutions and organizations whose important contributions allowed for a vibrant conference including Brussels Capital Region, the European Commission, DG CONNECT, Hanyang University, International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, & Rehabilitation (iACTOR), Interactive Media Insitute (IMI), INTERSTRESS, ISfTeH, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), the Virtual Reality Medical Center (VRMC), the Virtual Reality Medical Institute (VRMI) and Visit Brussels.

Conference members attending the poster session

Conference members attending the poster session

Brenda Wiederhold About Brenda Wiederhold
President of Virtual Reality Medical Institute (VRMI) in Brussels, Belgium. Executive VP Virtual Reality Medical Center (VRMC), based in San Diego and Los Angeles, California. CEO of Interactive Media Institute a 501c3 non-profit Clinical Instructor in Department of Psychiatry at UCSD Founder of CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy, & Social Networking Conference Visiting Professor at Catholic University Milan.

Written by Brenda Wiederhold

President of Virtual Reality Medical Institute (VRMI) in Brussels, Belgium. Executive VP Virtual Reality Medical Center (VRMC), based in San Diego and Los Angeles, California. CEO of Interactive Media Institute a 501c3 non-profit Clinical Instructor in Department of Psychiatry at UCSD Founder of CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy, & Social Networking Conference Visiting Professor at Catholic University Milan.