Applied Technology for Psychology Laboratory As a part of the Centro Auxologico Italiano, the ATP Lab has started its activity in 1994. The Centro Auxologico Italiano is one of the main Italian research sites, with three main hospitals located in northern Italy. Clinical activity and research are carried out together, by many indipendent laboratories, each with its peculiar field of interest. This activity is still being carried out, in support of Centro Auxologico's activities. ATP Lab focussed on the implicancies of psychological issues on Human-Computer Interaction, thus dealing with technology related problems, as well as with more general psychological topics. ATP Lab has conducted several researches on the possibility of using IT for clinical treatment and assessment. In particular, the aim of most researches was to predict the impact of short term therapy and to anticipate the follow up of long term therapy. The use of neural networks technologies has been explored to achieve this goal. ATP Lab has conducted several clinical researches in the field of Eating Disorders and Eating Behaviour. In July 1995 ATP Lab has been funded by the EC for the study of medical issues in Virtual Reality, and more specifically for the development of a VR module for the rehabilitation of patients suffering from eating disorders (such as bulimia or binge eating), post-stroke disorders and Parkinson's disease. ATP Lab is currently involved in a number of international research projects. Its interest now focuses on psychological issues dealing with communication, technology and virtual realities. ATP Lab also co-ordinates the activities of the IT VRSIG (Virtual Reality Special Interest Group). The IT VR-SIG, in coordination with the other VR-SIGs around the world, provides information and provides a wide range of activities related to Virtual Reality and its implementation in many sectors of industry and commerce.

ATP Lab's main staff:

Giuseppe Riva (bepperiva@auxologico.inet.it), Ph.D., is currently Head Researcher at the Applied Technology for Psychology Laboratory - ATP Lab, Centro Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. He received his Ph.D in psychology from the Department of General Psychology of the University of Milano, Italy. He has played a key role in several researches carried out by the GRICO, Gruppo di Ricerca sull'Interazione COmunicativa (Research Group on Communicative Interaction) of the Catholic University of Milan, many of which focused on issues concerning psychological implicancies in the use of new information technologies. In the ATP Laboratory he conducted several researches and published articles about eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia) and about the use of Virtual Reality in medicine and for clinical psychological treatment.

Giuseppe Riva is now coordinator of theVREPAR Project funded by the EC for the use of Virtual Reality in medical assessment and treatment.

Mirco Bolzoni (psbolzo@ipdunivx.unipd.it), Ph.D., is currently Senior Researcher at the Applied Technology for Psychology Laboratory - ATP Lab, Centro Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. He received his Ph.D in social psychology from the Department of General Psychology of the University of Padova, Italy. He developed his scientific formation both working for the Interactive Environments Laboratory (Lab.Amb.Int) and with the participation to various European Telecommunication Projects. Its interests are directed towards the cognitive and social compatibility of human-computer interaction. These issues are treated as a primary resource for the improvement of the usability properties of system interfaces.

Luca Melis (lucamelis@hotmail.com), M.S., is currently Associate Researcher at the Applied Technology for Psychology Laboratory - ATP Lab, Centro Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. He received his M.S. in work and technology psychology from University of Cagliari, Italy. His interests include computer mediated communication, computer supported collaborative work and issues related to telework/teletraining.