People

CUHTec's researchers span 3 disciplines: Psychology, Electronics and Computer Science. They have collaborated for many years, and have a solid track record in project achievement and in devising practical solutions to real world problems.

Director of CUHTec Professor Andrew Monk, Department of Psychology

Steering Group Members Professor John Robinson, Director of Research, Department of Electronics

Professor Helen Petrie, Department of Computer Science

Deputy Directors Dr Paul Cairns, Department of Computer Science

Dr Kevin Doughty, Telecare Consultant

For general enquiries or further information about CUHTec please contact Jenny Parry, CUHTec Administrator:

E: cuhtec@psych.york.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 1904 323178

People currently associated with CUHTec (in alphabetical order)

Dr Ian Benest, Department of Computer Science

Ian Benest is concerned with the technology base for the creation, re-organisation and re-expression of knowledge, for and by retirees, in support of their leisure activity. He is concerned that knowledge presentation can be hindered by visual and hearing impairment, a lack of awareness of knowledge, and a lack of persuasive techniques for attracting, concentrating and retaining attention. He is a Chartered Engineer through the IEE and is Treasurer of the British HCI Group.

Ian Benest Publications List

E: ian.benest@cs.york.ac.uk
T: +44 1904 325671

Lucy Buykx, Ph D Student, Department of Computer Science

My PhD research explores the use of technology to support food provision and cooking habits of older adults. A wide range of smart (and not so smart!) systems have been developed to support shopping, meal planning, and cooking but few have looked at the different preferences, habits and needs of older people. My research is starting from the ground up with interviews with older people, and in home studies of their shopping, meal planning and cooking habits.

E: lucy.buykx@cs.york.ac.uk
T: +44 1904 323376

Dr Paul Cairns, Department of Computer Science

I am senior lecturer in Human-Computer Interaction in the Department of Computer Science. I am programme leader for the MSc in Human-Centred Interactive Technologies. My research interests are in immersion in videogames, mathematical and statistical models of user interactions and research methods for human-computer interaction. I am on the editing board of the interdisciplinary journal "Interacting with Computers".

Paul Cairns Publications List

E: pcairns@cs.york.ac.uk

T: +44 1904 325674

Dr Kevin Doughty, Telecare Consultant

I am a widely experienced consultant in telecare and am currently advising CUHTec on this topic as its Deputy Director. Originally a physicist and electrical engineer by origin, I became interested in medical electronics. Via a research and then a lecturing career in sensor technologies and telecommunications, I established my own company Technology in Healthcare to enable direct and practical application of expertise to the running of a residential care home. As former Director of Telehealth for Tunstall Group I now work with them to enable leading edge research to guide the design of telecare products.

E: dr.k.doughty@btinternet.com

Alistair Edwards, Department of Computer Science

My research interests include the use of information technology by people with disabilities. In particular I am interested in the use of multiple modalities of communication and the development of 'new' modalities, including non-speech sounds, speech input and output, and the tactual component of interaction. Currently I am pursuing a project which builds on previous work in CUHTec on video analysis, another one on memory aids for people with moderately severe memory impairments and the evaluation and design of communication aids.

Alistair Edwards Publications List

E: alistair.edwards@cs.york.ac.uk
T: +44 1904 325672

Suresh Manandhar, Lecturer, Department of Computer Science

My interests are in bringing natural language processing technology to the home. In particular I am interested in building lightweight natural language understanding systems that are suitable for embedded devices. This work is funded the DTI and is currently building a SmartFridge demonstrator. I am Lecturer in Computer Science and also Director for Lexicle which is a York spin-off company that specialises in building virtual animated personalities.

Suresh Manandhar Publications List

E: suresh.manandhar@cs.york.ac.uk
T: +44 1904 325677

Professor Andrew Monk, Department of Psychology

My current research is to understand what people want from the technology in their homes. A particular interest is technology to maintain the independence of older people, e.g., banking for the over 80s, help with activities of daily living for people with dementia and mainstream assistive technology.

I have a long history in usability research, particularly lightweight methods for use by designers and videoconferencing. I am Professor of Psychology at York University, Director of CUHTec, and a Fellow of the British Computer Society. I was Chair of the British HCI Group from 1997-2001 and have been active in the ACM Sig CHI, being elected to the ACM CHI Academy in 2005.

Andrew Monk Publications List

E: Andrew.Monk@psych.york.ac.uk
W: Home Page

Professor Helen Petrie, Department of Computer Science

I am a Professor of Human Computer Interaction in the Department of Computer Science. My main interest is the design and evaluation of technologies for disabled and elderly people. I have worked on over 20 externally funded projects from investigating the accessibility of the web to a multimedia reading system for people with print disabilities. I am on the editorial boards of the "British Journal of Visual Impairment" and "Technology and Disability", a Lay Advisor to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and a trustee of the Foundation for Assistive Technology www.fastuk.org.

Helen Petrie Publications List

E: petrie@cs.york.ac.uk
T: +44 1904 325603

Chris Power, Department of Computer Science

I am a Research Fellow in the Department of Computer Science. I specialise in Human-Computer Interaction with particular interest in problems related to accessibility for people with special needs, educational informatics, medical informatics and related fields. My current research is the application of accessibility tools and techniques to the domain of education, and in particular lifelong learning. In the broader field of HCI I am interested in the application of technology in education and health, as well as the use of technology in home computing.

Chris Power Publications List

E: cp535@york.ac.uk
T: +44 1904 325673

Professor John Robinson, Director of Research, Department of Electronics

My research is in image and video processing. I am particularly interested in automated movie analysis, picture coding and video augmented environments. In CUHTec I am involved with the development of new technologies, particularly those like SketchTop and the AudioPhotoDesk, that allow people to manipulate sound and video through tangible media.

E: jar11@ohm.york.ac.uk
T: +44 01904 322353