Alvaro Joffre Uribe Quevedo is an Assistant Professor at the Ontario Tech University (formerly the University of Ontario Institute of Technology). He received his bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering from Universidad M. Nueva Granada - Colombia, followed by a Master and Doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Brazil. In September 2016 he concluded his Post-Doctoral appointment at the Games Institute at the University of Waterloo researching the effects of games in medical training.
His research interests are in virtual reality to develop applications and assessment tools to tailor the immersion and interactions towards effective inclusive and meaningful experiences.
Dr. Uribe Quevedo is passionate about gaming technology and an early adopter of immersive technologies.
His current research program funded by NSERC - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, focuses on the development of a framework for VR usability to create tailored and effective experiences that account for user and hardware variability.
Member of the MaxSIM Health Research Group since 2019.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2017
Present
Assistant Professor
Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada
Teaching:
Undergraduate:
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Special Topics In IT: VR Networking and Haptics (Summer 2019),
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Industrial Design for Gaming Hardware (Fall 2018, Winter 2020, Fall 2020),
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International Course on Virtual Reality (Summer 2018 in conjunction with the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada),
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Game Engine Design & Implementation (Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020),
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Intermediate Computer Graphics (Winter 2018, Winter 2020),
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Special Topics in Game Dev: Emerging Technology (Winter 2018, WInter 2019, Fall 2019),
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Directed Studies in IT (Winter 2018, Winter 2020 in conjunction with the University of Shizuoka)
Graduate:
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Direct Studies in Computer Interfaces Media stream, Computer Science, Fall 2018.
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Direct Studies in Advanced Topics in Digital Media, Computer Science, Winter 2019.
Research (Main applicant)
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Development of a virtual reality usability framework that correlates physiological and qualitative assessment data. Funding: NSERC Discovery Grant. 2018-2023
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Virtual Reality Hands-On Evaluation PSHSA Working at Heights Training. Funding: Public Services Health and Safety Association Canada, April 2019
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VR framework as a non-literacy alternative to increase work readiness awareness for job seekers. Funding: National Sciences and Engineering Research Council NSERC. Type:, Engage Grant. March - September 2019.
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Prototyping of a virtual reality walking user interface. Funding: National Sciences and Engineering Research Council NSERC. Type: Undergraduate Summer Research Awards Program. May - August 2019
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Extending user interactions in virtual, augmented and mixed reality. Funding: Mitacs Globalink. May - August 2019.
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Development of an interactive dialogue system prototype for VR in medical applications, based on motion and gesture user inputs. Funding: National Sciences and Engineering Research Council NSERC, Type: Undergraduate Summer Research Awards Program. May - August 2018
Research (co-applicant):
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Ontario Tech University and Ontario Shores. Advancing reminiscence therapy through virtual reality application to promote social connectedness of persons with dementia. Main applicant: Winnie Sun PhD, Co-applicant: Manon Lemonde, Bill Kapralos, Ramiro Liscano, Alvaro Uribe Quevedo, Akira Tokuhiro. October 2019 – December 2020.
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Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Scientific Research Grant Development of a serious game as a complementary tool to improve agriculture exporters access to information.
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Main applicant: William Vargas MFin
Co-applicant: Enit Gomez MIRB, Byron Perez MSc. External collaborator: Alvaro Uribe Quevedo PhD. March 2020 - February 2021. -
Applied virtual reality for lower back pain physiotherapy as a tool to alter pain perception and its tracking through physiological measures and user interactions through non-invasive techniques Phase I. Main applicant: Lina Penuela MSc. Co-applicants: Jorge Tolosa MD, Alvaro Uribe Quevedo PhD. March 2019 - April 2020
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Collaborative/competitive adaptive VR training environments. Main applicant: Michael Jenkin PhD. Co-applicant: Bill Kapralos PhD., Alex Theorodou, Alvaro Uribe PhD. Funding: Innovation York and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, Type: Industrial Research Assistance Program.
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Usability testing of a gamified educational network. Main applicant: BillKapralos PhD. Co-applicant: Alvaro Uribe PhD. Funding: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Type: UOIT SSHRC SmallGrants Program 2018.
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Design and development of a virtual reality simulator prototype for myocardial infarction treatment phase I. 2018-2019. Funded by Universidad Militar Nueva Granada
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Upgrading the Human Machine Laboratory. Main applicant: Miguel VargasMartin PhD, Co-applicants: Patrick Hung PhD, Amirali Salehi-Abari Alvaro UribeQuevedo PhD. Funding: UOIT, Type: Research Infrastructure Funds RIF. 2018-2019
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UOIT Computational Infrastructure for Artificial Intelligence. Main applicant: Amirali Salehi Abari PhD, Co-applicants: Salma Karray PhD, Patrick Hung PhD, Miguel Vargas Martin PhD, Khalil El-Khatib PhD, Shahram Heydari PhD, Faisal QureshiPhD, Christopher Collins PhD, Julie Thorpe PhD, and Alvaro Uribe Quevedo PhD. Funding: UOIT, Type: Research Infrastructure Funds RIF.2018-2019
2012
2017
Assistant Professor
Mil. Nueva Granada University, Bogotá, Colombia
Teaching: Introduction to Engineering (2012), Introduction to Computer Graphics (2012), Computer Graphics (2012), Simulation (2012), Automation (2012), Technical Design (2013), Virtual Environments (2013 - 2015), Research Seminar (2012), Master's Research Seminar (2014 - 2015), Industrial Design (2015).
Research Projects with funding (Main applicant):
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Design and implementation of a motion capture system for 3D animation based on an anthropomorphic humanoid robot. 2013
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Interactive tool for lower limb physical activity monitoring. 2014
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Interactive defibrillator guide. 2014
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Virtual manikin for patient diagnoses based on face symptoms. 2014
Research Projects with funding (co-applicant):
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Virtual Surgery Phase I. 2012
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Virtual Surgery Phase II. 2013
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Neonatal central venous access simulator Phase I. 2014
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Development of a venous central access neonatal simulator phase II. 2015-2016
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Neonatal virtual Intraosseus venous access Phase I. 2017-2018
Research Interests: Virtual Reality, 3DUIs, Haptics, Serious Games, Game Development, Exergames.
Administrative Duties:
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Director of the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Office
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Engineering Research Center Director (2014),
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Engineering Faculty Journal Editorial Committee (2014-2017).
2015
2016
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Waterloo, Games Institute, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Research on the effects of gaming in training scenarios
2015
2017
Adjunct Professor
University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, Canada
Computer Science Master's Thesis co-supervisor
Game Development and Entrepreneurship undergraduate capstone project co-supervisor
2012
2015
Sessional Lecturer and Thesis Supervisor
El Bosque University, Bogotá, Colombia
Master's in University Education
2009
2011
2008
2006
2007
2004
2007
FAPESP Researcher Scholarship
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Doctoral Thesis: "Development of a Lower Limb with Reduced Mobility Perambulator VR Asistive System "
CnPQ Researcher Scholarship
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Master's dissertation: "Object Manipulation within a Virtual Environment using an Anthropomorphic Gripper coupled to an Industrial Robot"
Virtual Reality Lecturer
Multimedia Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering programs, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
Virtual Reality Center Engineer
Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
2004
Software Developer
Promotora de Transportes Universo S.C.A., Bogotá, Colombia