Professor Adrian Friday

Ubicomp for sustainability, systems support for ubiquitous computing, the Internet of Things

Interested in applying ubicomp sensing to conduct real-world empirical experiments to uncover how everyday practices contribute to carbon externality and global warming, and how we might transform these using technological ubicomp interventions. Recent work has explored energy in the home, time-shifting energy demand, adaptive thermal comfort, sustainable food choice, and promoting sustainable last-mile freight services.

Professor Nigel Davies

Nigel Davies is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Co-Director of Data Science Institute at Lancaster University. His work is in the area of pervasive computing including systems support for new forms of data capture and interaction and is characterized by an experimental approach involving large-scale deployments of novel systems with end-users.

Professor Sumi Helal

Digital Health, the Internet of Things, Pervasive Systems

As Chair of Digital Health, I lead interdisciplinary research and initiatives in digital health in both the School of Computing and Communications (Faculty of Science and Technology) and the Faculty of Health and Medicine. My active areas of research focus on architectural and programmability aspects of the Internet of Things (systems research), and on pervasive/ubiquitous systems and their human-centric applications with special focus on smart spaces, proactive health/wellness, patient empowerment and e-coaching, and assistive technology in support of personal health, ageing, disabilities, and independence.

Dr Lynne Blair

Human aspects of Computing such as personal and social implications of our digital economy on community values and integrity, wellbeing, and environmental implications regarding sustainability in digital innovations. Values and frames – applied to digital technologies; and specifically the integration of values into design through the HCI field of Value Sensitive Design. Interactions occurring in software systems (feature-oriented development), aspect-oriented software development and formal verification techniques.

Dr Keith Cheverst

My research explores the obdurate problems associated with the user-centred design of interactive systems that utilise mobile and/or ubicomp technologies and feature context-aware/place-based locative media content. I am particularly interested in the deployment and longitudinal study of technology prototypes and probes in complex or semi-wild settings in order to gain insights into issues of user adoption and appropriation. I follow an iterative development approach with strong elements of co-design and the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Notable past examples of deployments which involved longitudinal study (over several years) include the Hermes office door display system and the Wray display deployment. A current research focus is to explore the potentially positive role that digital technologies can play in mediating and facilitating the nature experience. Indeed, given the widespread concern over society’s growing disconnect with nature (and the scientific evidence showing the health and wellbeing benefits associated with time spent in nature) there is a societal urgency to investigate ways of realising this potential.

Dr Mark Rouncefield

Mark's research covers various different aspects of the empirical study of work, organisation, human factors and interactive computer systems design. This work is strongly interdisciplinary in nature and has led to extensive and continuing collaborations with colleagues in Sociology, Computing, Informatics and Management departments both in the UK and abroad. His empirical studies of work and technology have contributed to critical debates concerning the relationship between social and technical aspects of IT systems design and use. He is particularly associated with the development of ethnography as a method for informing design and evaluation.

Dr Joe Finney

My research revolves around the investigation of network and system support for mobile, embedded and ubiquitous computing. I typically employ an experimental methodology in my research. Through the prototyping of novel and emerging applications, I work to discover new requirements, architectures, protocols and techniques for future networks and systems. I find adopting such a pragmatic and experimental approach not only provides accurate research results and insights but also enables more direct dissemination of research results into both the academic and industrial research communities. As an example of this, previous work I undertook around the Mobile IPv6 protocol was later adopted by Microsoft and integrated on their Windows XP and CE operating systems, and have developed patented and licensed technologies for the creation of emergent displays.

Dr Bran Knowles

Bran Knowles is a Lecturer in Data Science, focusing on trust, privacy and ethical considerations surrounding data and data systems. Her background is multidisciplinary, spanning the psychology, sociology, anthropology, and design, and her PhD is in Digital Innovation. Her research explores different aspects of trust through ethnographic case studies, develops conceptual models of trust that help in understanding a research agenda for developing trusted data systems, and develops practitioner guidelines for creating trusted data systems. She approaches the development of socio-technical systems from a human perspective, applying an understanding of how people come to trust one another in the real world towards understanding how to design systems that people trust.