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Aistikattila

Aistikattila lab photo

Aistikattila Sensory Laboratory (est. 2019) consists of an "immersive room" and related research infrastructure. It has been used for teaching, research, art exhibits and conferences.

> Presentation Video | 360 Tour

Resources​

Sensory Experiences (Immersive environment room)​

  • Scent
    • Programmable multichannel scent diffuser (3 channels)
    • A large collection different research scents
    • Large HVAC system: room scent clears in 30-45 minutes
      • Scents disperse evenly to the room within about 3 minutes
  • Projector Wall (4 projectors combined)
    • Multiple environments (multiple panorama videos and still images with audio and lighting, 3D environment prototypes)
    • Existing enviroments include: Relaxing ocean, city living, moving forest, 3D forest, Scotland hills in summer (many more exist, ask for details!)
    • Watch own videos or YouTube in immersive mode (work in progress)
    • Easy to make your own! (Via QLab or Unity)
  • Programmable RGB ceiling lights with adjustable temperature (Helvar)
    • Super high intensity down to pitch black lighting achievable
  • 5.1 to 11.1 full room audio speaker system

Observation​

VR/AR + interactivity​

  • VR glasses (2x Quest 2 + collab possibilities with Quest 3 in Spaatteli and https://ar.utu.fi/ )
  • Eye-tracking camera glasses for walking around
  • Tablets (20x Android tablets, Lenovo Tab M9 + various iPads)
  • Portable touch screen (USB-C, UTouch E6 Pro, 1920x1080, 18 Inch)
  • Dedicated PC connected to projectors and usable for VR glasses for more demanding applications (work in progress)

Conference / Workshop​

  • Presentation and study laptops
  • 4K USB conference system for Zoom/Teams
  • Portable battery PA system (Incl. Microphone, 3.5mm or bluetooth connection) (Samson Expedition XP106W)
    • Drawing board
    • Presentation clickers
    • Pens, post-it notes, scissors, etc. with supply closet nearby

Artifical Intelligence​

  • Conversational AI bot (work in progress)
  • Computer vision (upcoming)
  • AI Generated environments (upcoming)

Kitchen​

  • Oven
  • Fridge
  • Freezer
  • Microwave
  • Coffee maker
  • Kettle
  • Silverware, plates, cups, etc.
  • Dishwasher
  • Serving equipment
  • Misc. Cooking equipment, weighing equip.
  • Induction stove

Surveys​

  • redcap.utu.fi
  • Interview equipment, tablets, etc.
  • custom survey software development expertise in-house (for example: change survey page => change environment => notify researcher, etc)

Co-create with us​

We have in-house development expertise from research environments to hardware and software development, including AI.

Other resources​

  • Catering (Sodexo)
  • eye tracking camera for laptops
  • Zoom H3-VR Microphone
  • Projectors for other rooms (short throw, far throw, 2x far throw 6k lumen)
  • Movable scent machines
  • Mini whiteboard
  • Laptop connectable scales
  • Digital person scale
  • Portable battery bluetooth/3.5mm speakers (5x JBL Charge 5)
  • Portable high power resonance wireless stereo transducers (make any surface resonate)
  • Directional speakers
  • Motion sensors (environment reacts to shaking an object or to any person's movement)
  • Person location sensors (radar based: where is a person moving in the room) (work in progress)
  • Real time decibel meter (clap to change environment)
  • Storage closets
  • Openable windows towards restaurant for natural light
  • Fake plants, other props (fake apples, bananas, lettuce, etc.).
  • Seasonal props: mini desk plants, remote control RGB candles, halloween environment
  • Poster holders
  • Large portable (touch) screens on wheels
  • Remote controllable 800-2000W heating lamp for fine grained temperature experience control (prototype)
  • Room HVAC speed control
  • Visitor WiFi
  • Touchable video wall (work in progress as of 2026)
  • Game controllers (upcoming, for example create a multiplayer educational fishing game on the video wall)
  • USB-C thermal camera(s)
  • Projection mapping (upcoming)
  • PMR walkie talkies for larger events

What differentiates Aistikattila​

  1. Access to hundreds of restaurant diners for rapid recruitment of volunteers for studies
  2. Large, private and sound isolated space
  3. Constantly developing 3D/VR/AI capabilities
  4. Illumination and other sensory inputs can be modulated interactively, including scents
  5. Conference presentation capabilities
  6. Workshop capabilities with modifiable composition (desks and chairs can all be moved around)

Previous studies + Getting started​

Nearby​

  • Flavoria research restaurant + Cafe
  • Spaatteli VR Room
  • Pikkukattila (Small conference room in same building, including colored lights)
  • Aistila commercial research
  • Move 5D immersive event space

Immersive Rooms Elsewhere + Inspiration for Studies​