The Interactive Experiences Lab (ixLab) at Simon Fraser University’s School of Computing Science specializes in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Information Visualization (InfoVis). Using an interdisciplinary, human-centered approach, we invent, design, prototype and study novel interactive data visualization and computing systems with the overt intention to empower people, helping to make it more possible for them to tackle technology and data challenges in a variety of domains.
Sheelagh Carpendale
Sheelagh Carpendale is a Full Professor at Simon Fraser University in the School of Computing Science. Her research focuses on information visualization, interaction design, and qualitative empirical research. By studying how people interact with information both in work and social settings, she works towards designing more natural, accessible and understandable interactive visual representations of data. She combines information visualization and human-computer interaction with innovative new interaction techniques to better support the everyday practices of people who are viewing, representing, and interacting with information.
Parmit Chilana
Parmit Chilana is an Associate Professor in human-computer interaction (HCI) and Ebco-Eppich Research Chair at the School of Computing Science at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Parmit’s core research in HCI focuses on inventing and deploying user-centered software help and learning techniques for feature-rich applications in a variety of domains, such as 3D modeling, education, health, and software development. In particular, she is passionate about using interdisciplinary approaches to understand and design for user diversity and empower users from all backgrounds and skills levels to use, learn, and program emerging technologies.
Lawrence Kim
Lawrence Kim is an Assistant Professor of Computing Science at Simon Fraser University. His research lies at the intersection of HCI, robotics, and haptics. He designs and builds affective tangible interfaces to enable new interaction and facilitate physical and mental well-being. Prior to joining SFU, Kim was a postdoc in the School of Medicine at Stanford University. He completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a Ph.D. Minor in Computer Science at Stanford (with support from a Samsung Scholarship), MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, and BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Xing-Dong Yang
Xing-Dong Yang is an Associate Professor in human-computer interaction (HCI) at the School of Computing Science at Simon Fraser University. He investigates future interactive systems and brings interactivity to everyday objects. His work focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of novel interactive systems for smart everyday “things”, ranging from watches to garments, accessories, appliances, and furniture. Aside from contributing new systems and knowledge to the field, I use the experiences from my own research to inform the investigation of prototyping tools to enable broader participation of research activities in my field for people without a strong background in electronics, sensors, or actuators.
Nick Vincent
Prof. Nick Vincent is an Assistant Professor in human-centered artificial intelligence. Much of his research focuses on understanding how data records -- including works that we produce and logs of our behavior -- provide value to AI systems such as search engines, recommender systems, and new "generative AI" systems, and how the benefits of data-dependent AI might flow back to the public. A key idea motivating his work is that because human activities are upstream of the data contributions that make AI work, organized groups can exert "data leverage" to bargain for larger shares of the profits of AI or for more voice in how AI systems are governed.
Featured Publications
Khurana et al. ChatrEx: Designing Explainable Chatbot Interfaces for Enhancing Usefulness, Transparency, and Trust (VL/HCC 21), to appear [30% acceptance rate]
Vermette et al. Peek-through Customization: Example-Based In-Context Sharing for Learning Management Systems, DIS 2020 (Best Paper Honorable Mention!)
Ashtari et al. Creating Augmented and Virtual Reality Applications: Current Practices, Challenges, and Opportunities, CHI 2020 (Best Paper Award)
Data Changes Everything: Challenges and Opportunities in Data Visualization Design Handoff
News
Laton Vermette successfully defended his PhD thesis!
Thesis title: An Example-Based Customization Sharing Platform to Support Educators with Using Feature-Rich Classroom Software
Co-supervisors: Parmit K. Chilana (SFU) and Joanna McGrenere (UBC)
Congratulations Dr. Vermette!
Two papers coming up at IEEE VLHCC 2020!
We will be presenting two new papers on feature-rich software learnability at IEEE VLHCC 2020.
You can find out more about these publications here.
Laton Vermette and Parmit Chilana win Honorable Mention Award at DIS 2020!
Vermette et al. received an Honorable Mention Award at DIS 2020 for "Peek-through Customization: Example-Based In-Context Sharing for Learning Management Systems."
You can find out more about this publication here.
Katherine Currier successfully defended her thesis: In-Home Data and Data Visualization.
Supervisor: Sheelagh Carpendale
Co-Supervisor: Tony Tang
Examiners: Stefania Forlini; Mea Wang