updated lab description, selected pubs, people, contact

Author: alexiiion

_includes/teaser.html

@@ -7,15 +7,20 @@
         <div class="teaser__content">
 
           <h1 class="teaser__title">
-            Hello from the <strong>interactive structures</strong> lab!
+            Human-Centered Physical AI
           </h1>
           <p class="no-space-after">
-            We investigate and develop interactive computational design tools that enable digital fabrication of complex structures for novice users.
-            Interactive structures <strong>embed functionality</strong> within their geometry such that they can react to <strong>simple input</strong> with <strong>complex behavior</strong>. Such structures enable materials that can, e.g., embed robotic movement, can perform computations, or communicate with users. 
+            The world around us is inherently physical, yet adaptive interfaces focus mostly on adapting digital contents. Users, on the other hand, have many physical tasks and interact with physical objects all the time. To support users with physical tasks, AI needs an embodiment.
           </p>
-          <h3><strong>HCI</strong> + computational geometry + engineering + design</h3>
+          <h3><strong>Augmenting humans</strong> &gt; automating tasks</h3>
           <p>
-            We focus on material discovery by <strong>broadening participation</strong>. We develop optimization-based <strong>interactive design tools</strong> that enable novices to contribute their creativity and experts to apply their intuition in order to foster the advancement of high-tech materials. We investigate the entire pipeline, i.e., their mechanical <em>structure</em>, the <em>algorithms</em> for efficient design, the unforeseen <em>application</em> areas and <em>fabrication</em> methods. 
+            We research <strong>adaptive systems for physical interaction</strong> that are ubiquitous and unobtrusive. Intelligence should be integrated into our familiar objects and environments, therefore blending into the background while dynamically adapting to our needs. 
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            We investigate interactive structures and physical AI, designing computational methods and innovative materials that seamlessly blend computation, fabrication, and robotics. Our research advances the creation of responsive materials and intelligent structures that sense, react, adapt, and communicate with users and the environment. By embedding intelligence directly within physical forms, from flexible robotic actuators to wearable technologies and metamaterials, we create intuitive interfaces, enhance human interaction, and foster novel, unobtrusive integrations of technology into everyday life.
+          </p>
+          <p>
+            At the Interactive Structures Lab, we bridge the gap between understanding user needs and adapting to them by developing <strong>full-stack</strong> research prototypes, incl. software systems and physical interfaces.
           </p>
           <p>
             The Interactive Structures lab is led by <a href="http://alexandraion.com/">Prof. Alexandra Ion</a> at <a href="https://hcii.cmu.edu/">CMU HCII</a>. 

_news/2023-11-awards-violet-jesse.html

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 layout: plain
 date: 2023-11-08
-visible: true
+visible: false
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_pages/contact.html

@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ <h3>Visit us</h3>
     <div class="col col-4 col-t-12">
         <strong>Lab director</strong><br>
         Prof. Alexandra Ion <br>
-        <a href="mailto:{{ 'alexandraion@cmu.edu' | encode_email }}">alexandraion@cmu.edu</a>.
+        <a href="mailto:{{ 'alexandraion@cmu.edu' | encode_email }}">email Alex</a>
         <br>
     </div>
 
     <div class="col col-4 col-t-12">
         <strong>Administrative coordinator</strong><br>
-        Rosemary Peta-Eizenhafer <br>
-        <a href="mailto:{{ 'rpetaeiz@andrew.cmu.edu' | encode_email }}">rpetaeiz@andrew.cmu.edu</a>.
+        Julia Chadwick<br>
+        <a href="mailto:{{ 'juliacha@andrew.cmu.edu' | encode_email }}">email Julia</a>
         <br>
     </div>
 </div>