Associate Professor Stephen Viller
Associate Professor

Stephen Viller

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 51190

Background

Human-centred design of interactive systems

Stephen Viller is a researcher and educator in human-centred design methods, particularly applied to designing social, domestic and mobile computing technologies, and understanding how people's interactions in everyday settings inform the design of such technologies. He has over 30 years of experience in Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), Interaction Design, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research, where he has focused on bridging disciplines and diverse methodological perspectives. He has concentrated on qualitative methods, particularly observational fieldwork, contextual interviews, diary studies and field trips, but also increasingly on more ‘designerly’ approaches such as cultural probes, low-fidelity prototypes, speculative design.

Stephen is an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS), where he leads the Human-Centred Computing discipline. He is also UQ's Theme Leader for the Digital Worlds and Disruptive Technologies theme in the QUEX Institute, and national chair of CHISIG, the Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA). From 2016-2019 he was the EECS (ITEE at the time) Director of Coursework Studies (Chair of T&L committee) and from 2011-2016 he was Program Director of the Bachelor of Multimedia Design and Master of Interaction Design. His publications span various interdisciplinary journals and conferences in HCI/CSCW and technology design. He has a BSc (Hons) Computation (UMIST), MSc Cognitive Science (Manchester) and PhD Computing (Lancaster).

Availability

Associate Professor Stephen Viller is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Affective computing Built Environment and Design Collaborative and social computing Communication and media studies Design Distributed computing and systems software Education Educational technology and computing Fairness, accountability, transparency, trust and ethics of computer systems Graphics, augmented reality and games Human-centred computing Human-computer interaction Information and Computing Sciences Information visualisation Language, Communication and Culture Library and information studies Mobile computing Organisational, interpersonal and intercultural communication Pervasive computing Requirements engineering Social and community informatics Social robotics Software engineering Specialist studies in education Virtual and mixed reality

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Computer Science, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
  • Masters (Coursework) of Cognitive Science, The University of Manchester
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Computer-Human Interaction, The University of Lancaster

Research interests

  • Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)

    I am interested in all aspects of the understanding of social interaction, methods of studying people in social settings, and informing the design of social technologies.

  • Interaction Design

    I am interested in people-centred methods for informing the design of interactive technologies. In particular, I explore how methods from other disciplines can be adopted and adapted to improve the software design process.

  • Emerging technologies

    Technology is only really interesting to me in terms of what it allows people to achieve. I am interested in various technologies in order to prototype and explore novel applications to solve problems in specific contexts. Current technologies I am working with include Internet of Things (IoT), Mixed and Augmented Reality (AR), Physical Computing, and mobile social software.

  • Application contexts

    Interaction design research takes place in everyday settings where we can understand current practice/activities and prototype and evaluate solutions. My research has involved a wide range of contexts, including dependable and safety-critical systems, office work, tourism, health, behaviour change, and education. In all these domains, my approach is to inform the design of technologies that not only meet the functional and usability needs/requirements of the people in the context, but that are also technologies that people would actually want to use.

Search Professor Stephen Viller’s works on UQ eSpace

113 works between 1991 and 2025
All (113) Journal Article (24) Other Outputs (6) Edited Outputs (4) Conference Publication (72) Book Chapter (7)

81 - 100 of 113 works

2006

Conference Publication

Lo-Fi matchmaking: A study of social pairing for backpackers 8th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, UbiComp 2006

Axup, Jeff, Viller, Stephen, MacColl, Ian and Cooper, Roslyn (2006). Lo-Fi matchmaking: A study of social pairing for backpackers 8th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, UbiComp 2006. UbiComp 2006: The Eighth International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, Orange City, CA, United States, 17-21 September 2006. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/11853565_21

Lo-Fi matchmaking: A study of social pairing for backpackers 8th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, UbiComp 2006

2006

Edited Outputs

The object of interaction: the role of artefacts in interaction design

Simpson, Matthew, Viller, Stephen, Vaughan, Laurene, Yuille, Jeremy, Akama, Yoko and Cooper, Rosyln eds. (2006). The object of interaction: the role of artefacts in interaction design. Annual Conference of the Australian Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group (OZCHI 2006), UTS, Sydney, Australia, 22-24 November, 2006.

The object of interaction: the role of artefacts in interaction design

2006

Conference Publication

Lo-Fi matchmaking: A study of social pairing for backpackers

Axup, Jeff, Viller, Stephen, MacColl, Ian and Cooper, Roslyn (2006). Lo-Fi matchmaking: A study of social pairing for backpackers. 8th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing (UbiComp 2006), Orange County, CA, United States, 17-21 September 2006. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/11853565_21

Lo-Fi matchmaking: A study of social pairing for backpackers

2006

Conference Publication

Design for Inspiration: Children, personal connections and educational technology

Wyeth, P., Diercke, C. and Viller, S. A. (2006). Design for Inspiration: Children, personal connections and educational technology. OZCHI 2006: The 18th Conference of the Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group of Australia on Computer-Human Interaction, Sydney, Australia, 20-24 November 2006. Sydney, Australia: CHISIG. doi: 10.1145/1228175.1228247

Design for Inspiration: Children, personal connections and educational technology

2005

Conference Publication

Watching ourselves watching: Ethical issues in ethnographic action research

MacColl, I. D., Cooper, R. E., Rittenbruch, M. and Viller, S. A. (2005). Watching ourselves watching: Ethical issues in ethnographic action research. OZCHI05, Canberra, Australia, 21-25 November 2005. Narrabundah, Australia: CHISIG.

Watching ourselves watching: Ethical issues in ethnographic action research

2005

Conference Publication

Formative research methods for the extremely mobile: Supporting community interaction amongst backpackers

Axup, J. C. and Viller, S. A. (2005). Formative research methods for the extremely mobile: Supporting community interaction amongst backpackers. Workshop on Appropriate Methods for Design in Complex and Sensitive Settings, Canberra, Australia, 22 November 2005. Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne.

Formative research methods for the extremely mobile: Supporting community interaction amongst backpackers

2005

Conference Publication

Reflections on reflection: Blogging in undergraduate design studios

MacColl, I. D., Morrison, A. J., Muhlberger, R. M., Simpson, M. R., Viller, S. A. and Wyeld, T. G. (2005). Reflections on reflection: Blogging in undergraduate design studios. Blogtalk Downunder, Sydney, Australia, 19-22 May 2005. Sydney, Australia: INCSUB.

Reflections on reflection: Blogging in undergraduate design studios

2005

Conference Publication

Augmenting travel gossip: Design for mobile communities

Axup, J. C. and Viller, S. A. (2005). Augmenting travel gossip: Design for mobile communities. 19th Conference of the Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group (CHISIG) of Australia on Computer-human Interaction: Citizens online: Considerations for Today and the Future, Canberra, Australia, 21-25 November 2005. Narrabundah, Ausrtalia: Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group of Australia.

Augmenting travel gossip: Design for mobile communities

2005

Conference Publication

A Collaborative Digestion and Design Game for Community and Technology Exploration

Viller, S. A., Brereton, M. F., Redhead, F. S. and Axup, J. (2005). A Collaborative Digestion and Design Game for Community and Technology Exploration. Designing for User Experience, Dux05, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California, 3-5 November, 2005. New York, NY: American Institute of Graphic Arts.

A Collaborative Digestion and Design Game for Community and Technology Exploration

2005

Journal Article

The studio scenario: Experiential learning in the Information Environments Program

Docherty, M. J., Brereton, M. F., MacColl, I. D., Viller, S. A. and Simpson, M. R. (2005). The studio scenario: Experiential learning in the Information Environments Program. The Professional Educator, 4 (1), 27-29.

The studio scenario: Experiential learning in the Information Environments Program

2005

Conference Publication

Usability of a mobile, group communication prototype while rendezvousing

Axup, Jeff C., Viller, Stephen A. and Bidwell, Nicole J. (2005). Usability of a mobile, group communication prototype while rendezvousing. International Symposium on Collaborative Technologies and Systems, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, 15-20 May 2005. Los Alamitos, CA, USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.. doi: 10.1109/ISCST.2005.1553290

Usability of a mobile, group communication prototype while rendezvousing

2004

Conference Publication

Observations in a maternity ward: Usability considerations for EHRs in an interrupt driven environment

Cooper, Roslyn, Viller, Stephen and Burmeister, Jay (2004). Observations in a maternity ward: Usability considerations for EHRs in an interrupt driven environment. 12th National Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2004), Brisbane, Australia, 25-27 July 2004. Melbourne, Australia: Health Informatics Society of Australia.

Observations in a maternity ward: Usability considerations for EHRs in an interrupt driven environment

2004

Conference Publication

Representation of self-reported information during mobile field studies: Pilots and orienteers 2

Axup, J. C., Bidwell, N. and Viller, S. A. (2004). Representation of self-reported information during mobile field studies: Pilots and orienteers 2. The 2004 Conference for the Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group (OZCHI), Wollongong, Australia, 22-24 November 2004. Wollongong, Australia: CHISIG.

Representation of self-reported information during mobile field studies: Pilots and orienteers 2

2004

Conference Publication

Observing architectural design: Improving the development of collaborative design environments

Simpson, Matthew and Viller, Stephen (2004). Observing architectural design: Improving the development of collaborative design environments. First International Conference on Cooperative Design, Visualisation and Engineering, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 19-22 September 2004. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.

Observing architectural design: Improving the development of collaborative design environments

2004

Journal Article

Engaging game characters: informing design with player perspectives

Drennan, Penelope, Viller, Stephen and Wyeth, Peta (2004). Engaging game characters: informing design with player perspectives. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), 3166, 355-358. doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-28643-1_45

Engaging game characters: informing design with player perspectives

2004

Conference Publication

Engaging game characters: Informing design with player perspectives

Drennan, Penelope, Viller, Stephen and Wyeth, Peta (2004). Engaging game characters: Informing design with player perspectives. Third International Conference on Entertainment Computing, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 1-3 September 2004. Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/b99837

Engaging game characters: Informing design with player perspectives

2003

Conference Publication

Talking about watching: using the video card game and wiki-web technology to engage IT students in developing observational skills

Brereton, M. F., Donovan, J. W. and Viller, S. A. (2003). Talking about watching: using the video card game and wiki-web technology to engage IT students in developing observational skills. ACE 2003 - Computing Education 2003, Adelaide, Australia, 4-7 February 2003. Sydney, NSW Australia: Australian Computer Society.

Talking about watching: using the video card game and wiki-web technology to engage IT students in developing observational skills

2003

Edited Outputs

OZCHI 2003: New Directions in Interaction: Information Environments, Media and Technology

Viller, Stephen and Wyeth, Peta eds. (2003). OZCHI 2003: New Directions in Interaction: Information Environments, Media and Technology. Annual Conference of CHISIG, the Computer Human Interaction Special Interest Group of the Ergonomics Society of Australia, Brisbane, Australia, 26th-28th November 2003. Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland : Department of Civil Engineering.

OZCHI 2003: New Directions in Interaction: Information Environments, Media and Technology

2003

Book Chapter

Observation for Innovation

Lebbon, C., Rouncefield, M. and Viller, S. A. (2003). Observation for Innovation. Inclusive Design: Design for the Whole Population. (pp. 402-419) edited by J. Clarkson, R. Coleman, S. Keates and C. Lebbon. London, UK: Springer Verlag. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4471-0001-0_25

Observation for Innovation

2002

Conference Publication

Developing Professional Designers in Information Environments: A Problem-oriented Case Study Approach in Technology Education

O'Brien, M. and Viller, S. A. (2002). Developing Professional Designers in Information Environments: A Problem-oriented Case Study Approach in Technology Education. Learning in Technology Education Chellenges for the 21st Century, Parkroyal Hotel, Gold Coast, Australia, 5-7 December 2002. Griffith University Brisbane: Centre for Technology Education Research, Griffith University.

Developing Professional Designers in Information Environments: A Problem-oriented Case Study Approach in Technology Education

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    The Enhancing Women's Recovery after Cancer Treatment Program (RECENTRE): A values-based implementation and evaluation (NHMRC 2022 Partnership Project PRC3 administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    XR Safety Training for Crisis Situations
    CSIRO
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    The Enhancing Women's Recovery after Cancer Treatment Program (RECENTRE): A values-based implementation and evaluation
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Redback Smart Monitoring Platform (Advance Queensland Platform Technology Program grant administered by Redback Operations Pty Ltd)
    Redback Technologies Australia
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    COMPASS - passport processing research project
    Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Home EnergyCoach: Driving energy efficient behaviours through interactive technologies
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Green robots, sustainable cities and inquiring minds: Young children engineer robots to create cities of the future
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Accessible Interactions
    Australasian CRC for Interaction Design
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Urban Interfaces
    Australasian CRC for Interaction Design
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    Suburban Communities
    Australasian CRC for Interaction Design
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Virtual Communities
    Australasian CRC for Interaction Design
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    HDM Touchstone
    Australasian CRC for Interaction Design
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Human-centred design of ubiquitous computing systems
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Stephen Viller is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Stephen Viller directly for media enquiries about:

  • Computer Supported Cooperative Work - CSCW
  • Engineering - ITEE
  • Human-centred design - ITEE
  • Human-Computer Interaction - HCI
  • Interaction Design - IxD
  • Interactive technologies - ITEE
  • ITEE - engineering
  • Mixed Reality
  • Mobile social software MoSoSo
  • Physical Computing
  • Requirements Engineering - RE
  • Social software - ITEE
  • Ubiquitous Computing - UbiComp
  • User Experience Design

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au