Research
Research Interests
My general research focus is on the general topic of “Inclusive Design and Social Aspects of Computing”. More specifically my research interests are:
- Inclusive Design:
- Web accessibility
- Design of interactive systems for the elderly and the disabled
- Cultural issues/differences and the design of interactive systems
- Participatory Design (especially as it applies to e-learning)
- Computer Aided Language Learning
- Social Aspects of Computing
- Computer Games and their social and pedagogical dimensions
- E-learning and sociability around e-learning
- Computer Mediated Communication (CMC)
- Computer Supported Collaborated Work (CSCW)
For a number of years I have been involved with research in the broad area of human computer Interaction. I am especially interested in mathematical models that represent age related differences in browsing hierarchical information systems (eg. the world wide web). E-learning is my second most important research focus, with an emphasis on Computer Assisted Foreign Language Learning (CALL) and web based digital libraries. Finally I have an interest in analyzing/evaluating (especially using techniques like social network analysis) online communities and the social aspects of computing (e.g. as a catalyst in helping solving regional conflicts).
Funded Research Projects
- (Oct 2008) Four new projects:
- I lead a new project where we are evaluating the accessibility of the Royal Opera House website
- Together with Sara Jones and colleagues from Middlesex University we have been awarded a new project (£199,983) from JISC titled “Information Spaces for Collaborative Creativity“. This project will address a recurrent problem in design education: that students are sometimes disengaged from key ‘creative conversations’ and that this problem can be exacerbated by learning technologies present in the classroom or the students’ wider networked world. The project will deploy trial ‘information spaces’ that will provide learners with the appropriate artefacts and modes of interacting with a learning situation, and with their peers and tutors, to enable them to engage more flexibly and effectively in conversations characterised by innovation and reflective, critical thinking. The project will run for 2 years.
- Together with Stephanie Wilson and Chee Siang Ang we are working on a new JISC project (£14,861) looking at the use of eye-tracking technologies and methods to explore the usability and learner experience of Multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs) e.g. Second Life. The project will run for 5 months.
- Together with Chee Siang Ang and colleagues from Oxford University, King’s College and University of Leicester have been awarded £5,000 from JISC to organize a new workshop on the topic of 3D Virtual Worlds and Social Learning.
- Principal Investigator: “User Interfaces, Social Software Technologies and Learning Experience”. JISC/EMERGE. Total: £13,215
- Principal Investigator: “Social Learning in Virtual Worlds”. Organization of a seminar as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences 2008. Total: £2,000
- Principal Investigator. ““Mathematical modelling of age-related differences in web browsing”. SPARC/EPSRC Total: £41,317. Time Period: Fall 2006 (for 12 months)
- Principal Investigator. Community of Practise of the ‘Users and Innovation: Personalising Technologies’ capital programme of JISC. Time Period: March 2007 – August 2007.
- Co-Investigator. “Personalisation of learning: constructing an interdisciplinary research space”. ESRC Total: £57,644.53. Time Period: Fall 2006 (for 6 months)
- Principal Investigator: ““The City Interaction Lab” The Vodafone UK Foundation. Total: £50,000. Time Period: 2006-
- Principal Investigator: Knowledge transfer fund for managing the City Interaction Lab. City University Internal Funds. Total: £25,092
- Principal Investigator. ”Information Visualisation Foundation Study”. JISC Total: £44,967. Time Period: September 2003 – February 2004
- Principal Investigator. “Dissemination of results for the Usability Studies for JISC Services and Information Environment”.JISC Total: £6,517. Time Period: July 2003 -
- Co-Investigator. “An in-depth study of the current state of web accessibility” Disability Rights Commission Total: £112,000. Time Period: April 2003 – October 2003.
- Co-Investigator. “Usability Studies for JISC Services and Information Environment”. JISC Total: £33,483. Time Period: December 2002 – April 2003.
- Co-Principal Investigator. “Establising an e-learning portal for Cyprus“. $150,000. Time Period: 1996-on going.
Current PhD Students
I am currently the supervisor of the following PhD students:
- Areej Al-Wabil
Research area: Web navigation and people with dyslexia
Funded through a Saudi Ministry of Higher Education scholarship (funding:~ £30,000) - Ulrike Pfeil
Research area: Online empathic communities
Funded through a City University studentship (funding:~ £45,000) - Nada Savitch
Research area: Web navigation and people with dementia - Helena Sustar
Research area: Participatory design of emotional interfaces for the elderly
Funded through a City University studentship (funding:~ £45,000)
I am also the second supervisor of the following PhD students:
Past PhD Students
- Chee Siang Ang (Graduated November 2007)
- Funded through a City University studentship (funding:~ £45,000)
- Currently: Research Fellow at HCID
- Andrew Laghos (Graduated March 2007)
- Thesis:
Laghos, A. (2007). Assessing the Evolution of Social Networks in e-Learning. PhD Thesis. Centre for HCI Design, City University London, UK. - Examiners: George Fakas and Charalambos Vrasidas
- Currently: Lecturer at Cyprus University of Technology
- Thesis:
- Dean Mohamedally (Graduated July 2006)
- Funded through an EPSRC scholarship (funding:~ £45,000)
- Thesis:
Mohamedally, D. (2006). Constructionism through Mobile Interactive Knowledge Elicitation (MIKE) in Human-Computer Interaction. PhD Thesis. Centre for HCI Design, City University London, UK. - Currently: Founder of Tigerlily Digital and Visiting Lecturer at City University London
- Jenny Darzentas (Graduated 2009)
- Thesis:
Darzentas, J. (2009). The Design of Accessible, Usable and Meaningful Content. PhD Thesis. Centre for HCI Design, City University London, UK. - Currently: Instructor at Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering, University of the Aegean
- Thesis:
