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NEVA

Avatar Librarian

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Schrader, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Jung Participants: Abdul Ahad Subjects: Hybrid Library, Avatar, RFID

NEVA is a virtual librarian system based on a graphical character, called Avatar. The motivation is not to replace the librarian but to enhance the library database with a personalized, human-like intelligent virtual agent serving the users needs for both detailed and complete database knowledge and social interaction.

The NEVA system has been developed within a Master Thesis project of Abdul Ahad in summer 2005 in cooperation with Prof. Bernhard Jung. NEVA combines 3D animations with lip-sync speech output. Users are identified with their personal RFID card. They can choose their preferred Avatar, which remembers the last activities. By defining a personal profile, patrons will be informed about new arrivals, get a tour through the library services, can search for specific books and are guided to the correct shelf. NEVA is connected to the local library database, can reserve rented books and inform the user via email notification.

More information can be found at:

• A. Ahad, B. Jung, and H. Prendinger
  Neva: A Conversational Agent based Interface for Library Information Systems
  A community-centric, wide-area approach for in-situ, context-mediated component discovery and composition
  Human-Computer Interaction, IASTED-HCI 2007, Chamonix, France, March 14-16, 2007.
• Abdul Ahad,
  The Virtual Librarian: Development of a Life-Like Character for a Kiosk-based Information System
  Master Thesis, ISNM, 2005.