Student of the Week // Antoine Seilles
Antoine Seilles – 31 years old – Originally from Albi – A resident of Montpellier since 1993 – Ph.D. in Web Data Science at LIRMM since 2011
“Before NaturalPad and while I was still in school, I founded a short-film association called imagiLAB with some friends.”
[ Could you introduce yourself in a few words? ] – An entrepreneur and passionate video game researcher, backed by a top-notch team.
[ What are your passions? What do you like to do in your free time? ] – Video games, of course, but also, more broadly, comic books, science fiction and heroic fantasy novels, and movies… Before NaturalPad and while I was still in school, I founded a short-film association with some friends: imagiLAB. I also really enjoy writing. And the NaturalPad team regularly works out together—it’s essential for building team spirit and relieving stress.
[ What about your studies? ] -I pursued a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science Applied to the Sciences, culminating in a thesis on the use of the Web and the representation of data derived from social network analysis in the context of online debates. Alongside my first years of computer science studies, I earned a bachelor’s degree in performing arts with a concentration in film.
[ Can you tell us about the NaturalPad concept? ] – NaturalPad is developing MediMoov, a web-based platform for motion-based games designed for adapted physical activity. The idea is to enable people to engage in physical activity tailored to their individual abilities using motion-based video games.
Currently, MediMoov is primarily offered to retirement homes, so we have seniors using it. However, we plan to offer the solution to specialized facilities in the field of functional and postural rehabilitation.
[ What's a typical day like for you? ] – Actually, I don’t do much IT work anymore. I have quite a few meetings with investors, public relations engagements with the institutions that support us, and sales prospecting. I really enjoy spending time with the management team. But I’m often traveling.
[ What's your favorite place on campus? ] – The green spaces at the Faculty of Sciences. We’re lucky to have such a great climate in Montpellier, and I’ve always found it very pleasant to enjoy the university’s green spaces during my breaks around noon. I also really like the room in Building 16 in the Computer Science Department. I spent most of my time there as a part-time teaching assistant, but I think it’s a great space for interaction between faculty and students. Plus, we organized a game jam there two years ago, and that’s a fond memory. The Botanical Institute also has a very beautiful lecture hall. Overall, I think the Institute of Botany is a great place. We’re housed at Euromov within the STAPS academic unit. It’s a part of the university I discovered relatively late, and it’s really pleasant. Euromov is a new building that’s very well designed to facilitate collaboration between industry and the movement sciences labs. I’ve also recently discovered part of the university hospital’s historic buildings. Between La Colombière and Lapeyronie, there’s a series of old buildings that have a lot of character.
[ What's your favorite place in Montpellier? ] – That’s a tough question—I love wandering around downtown on the weekends. I enjoy both Old Montpellier and the shops in the city center. The St. Roch neighborhood, the Azimuts bookstore, the graffiti along the Verdanson riverbanks, the St. Anne Church art gallery, La Panacée, the restaurants on Rue des Écoles Laïques and Rue de l’Aiguillerie like Chez Laïd and Burger’n’co, Le Bric à Brac… We also have two video game-themed bars: the Final Spot and the Meltdown. I actually considered setting that up as a project before NaturalPad. I love the concept, and I think these places haven’t yet shown their full potential.
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