• Multimodal human-computer interaction (HCI)
• 3D sound and Earcons in human-computer interfaces
• Novel multimodal interfaces for mobile devices
• The use of force-feedback devices, tactile displays, thermal feedback, pressure input and Tactons
• Sonification/Perceptualisation of data
• Design of haptic medical simulators
• Interaction design for older users and users with visual disabilities, homecare systems
• Smell-based user interfaces

We are all part of the Glasgow Interactive Systems Group (GIST) here at Glasgow. GIST is one of the largest HCI research groups in the UK. It is an inter-disciplinary group investigating all aspects of interactive systems from graphics, to sounds, from User Interface Management Systems to the psychology of interaction and formal specifications of user interfaces.

I lead the Multimodal interaction strand of SICSA. The Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance is a collaboration of Scottish Universities whose goal is to develop and extend Scotland's position as a world leader in Informatics and Computer Science research. 

Multimodal Research

A current focus of our work is on the design and evaluation of novel interfaces for mobile devices that can be used on the move. The GAIME project is investigating how we use non-hand based gestures (e.g. wrist rotation, head movements) and 3D sound to improve mobile interaction. We are also interested in pedestrian navigation on mobile devices and how we can support the kinds of navigation that people want to do with multimodal interaction in the Haptimap EU project.

We are also interested computer haptics, based on both force-feedback and tactile displays.We are currently interested in the design of Tactons (tactile icons). We also work in the area of design of visualisations for blind people - see the MultiVis project. For full details on our haptics research see the research pages.

A new area of interest is using multimodal interaction for home care. We have just started the Multimodal Reminders in the Home project with Edinburgh University to study how multimodal interaction can improve home care systems.

The design of non-speech sounds (things like music and sound-effects) and how they can be used to improve human-computer interaction is another area of our research. Earcons are one type of sound that we have studied in great detail. For lots more detail look at the research pages.

We have begun to work using smell as an interaction technique, particularly focusing on the memory-triggering capabilities of smell as an aid to searching and Aromacons, the smell equivalent of visual icons/earcon/tactons.

Conferences, Workshops and Special Issues

HAID 2011 was held in Ritsumeikan University in Japan in August. HAID 2012 will be held at Lund University in Sweden.

Ubicomp 2010: Designing for performative interactions in public spaces This workshop was organised by Julie Rico, Giulio Jacucci, Stuart Reeves, Lone Koefoed Hansen and Stephen Brewster. More information can be found on the workshop webpage

CHI 2011: Performative Interactions in Public Spaces This workshop was organised by Lone Koefoed Hansen, Julie Rico, Giulio Jacucci, Stephen Brewster and Daniel Ashbrook. More information can be found on the workshop webpage.