The PLAINTEXT Lab is now part of the DARPA Intrinsic Cognitive Security (ICS) program’s VeriPro project. This project is a collaborative initiative incorporating researchers from George Washington University, Northeastern University, University of Southern California, Kennesaw State University and industry partner Design Interactive. This program seeks to create breakthroughs in Mixed Reality (MR) technology by ensuring that virtual representations accurately reflect real-world counterparts. Led by Penn State, this multi-institutional project has secured $8.5 million in funding to explore new ways of authenticating and verifying real-world data in digital environments.
The PLAINTEXT Lab, led by Dr. Jonathan Dodge, contributes to the project by focusing on human interaction within MR systems under cognitive attack scenarios. Dr. Dodge and his team are developing a search-and-rescue testbed to design tasks to evaluate how users respond to MR environments that may be subject to misleading visual cues. By closely observing human behavior in these scenarios, the VeriPro researchers aim to refine cognitive models to help predict and mitigate potential vulnerabilities in MR systems. This research will advance MR security in defense applications and inform the design of more resilient systems for broader use, ensuring that MR technologies enhance user experience and safety under a range of conditions.
For more details on the VeriPro program, visit the Penn State News page.