Welcome to my homepage. I am a Reader at the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design , School of Informatics of City University , London. Before joining City University, I was a researcher at the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University from where I also got my Ph.D. in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). My research interests lie in HCI with an emphasis on inclusive design and social aspects of computing. I am especially interested in HCI issues related to the elderly and people with disabilities. I am also interested in internet related research (web usability, mathematical modelling of browsing behaviour in hierarchical online information systems, online communities, e-learning, web based digital libraries and finally social network analysis of online human-to-human interactions).

What's New (Last update: 29 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 secured £5,000 from JISC to organize a new workshop on the topic of 3D Virtual Worlds and Social Learning.
• In Oct 2008 I delivered a tutorial on Social Network Analysis at NordiCHI 2008 conference
  
• Student project topics I am interested in supervising

Contact Information:
Office: Room A206 College Building
Address:Centre for HCI Design
City University London
London, EC1V 0HB
E-Mail:zaphiri@soi.city.ac.uk
Tel:+44 20 7040 8168
Fax:+44 20 7040 8859