As a part of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano, the ATN-P Lab has started its activity in 1996. The Istituto 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 Istituto Auxologico's activities.

ATN-P Lab, headed by Riva, 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.

In its first decade, Riva pioneered much of the applications that enabled the diffusion of Virtual Reality and Internet in the field of health care. Specifically, his research work led to the development of a new scientific discipline – Cyberpsychology - integrating innovative research ranging from usability, ergonomics, and cognitive science, to mobile devices and simulation apparatus.

In its second decade, Riva research work is focusing on the concepts of “presence” and “human adaptability” embedding the bits of the digital realm with the atoms of our physical world. This is producing expanded research in ambient intelligence, shared virtual world and “interreality” applications: the creation of an hybrid augmented experience merging physical and virtual worlds.