Overview
Background
Dr. Dhaval Vyas is a Senior Lecturer in the Human-Centred Computing discipline - a former ARC DECRA Fellow (2018-2022) and. He is a part of the Compassion Lab research group. His research spans the areas of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). In particular, he focuses on designing IT tools to support health and wellbeing of under-resourced communities. He has worked in academia and industry for over 15 years. He received a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from University of Twente, the Netherlands; a master’s degree in Computer Science from Lancaster University, UK; and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Gujarat University, India.
Availability
- Dr Dhaval Vyas is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Twente
Research interests
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Compassion Lab: Designing for Under-served Communities
The Compassion Lab focuses on developing technologies for under-served communities in order to bring about social change, and improvement to their health and wellbeing. It has a strong user-centric focus that aims to study issues at the grass-root level using ethnography and involve people in the design and development of technological solutions. Target Domains and Communities: - Low SES Communities - Refugees and Asylum Seekers - Women in Crisis Situations - Rural Communities in Developing Countries - Older Adults
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Disabilities, Health and Wellbeing Tech
How can technologies provide the right kind of support to individuals going through various disabilities and health conditions? Using Virtual Reality (VR), storytelling and other forms of pervasive technologies are developed to provide adequate support. We work on the following topics: - Independent living for people with paraplegia - Mental health support for low SES community members - Enhancing social interactions in older adults
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Fostering DIY and ‘Making’ in Undeserved Communities
The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and makerspace movements have shown the potential for high-tech innovation, democratizing production and creativity, and revamping of economies and broken educational systems. However, within HCI, the focus has mainly been on more affluent and technology-savvy population. HCI lacks the narrative on how DIY and making practices are associated with economically disadvantaged members of the community. In particular, the role of innovation hubs such as makerspaces and community-based social enterprises in uplifting the economically disadvantaged needs to be thoroughly investigated. In collaboration with makerspaces that involve economically struggling members of the community and job seekers, this project aims to investigate DIY and making practices of LSE members and develop a counter-narrative on makerspaces and its inclusiveness.
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Quantified Self & Activity Tracking for Healthy Living
Within the research topics of Quantified Self (QS) and Activity Tracking, I have been focusing on supporting engaging social experiences for users; rather than on behavior change. A set of Android-based applications is developed in workplace settings to support activity tracking and fitness promotion. The aim is to enable employees to interweave activity tracking in their everyday routines and enable engaging social interactions in workplaces.
Research impacts
A project management application developed in my ARC DECRA project has been in use at the Sunnybank Men’s Shed, since July 2020. The application allows members to coordinate various activities around the shed.
My ARC DECRA project has generated a great interest in e-waste recycling and social entrepreneurship through various media articles:
- ABC News: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-17/using-ewaste-to-build-3d-printers-and-electric-bikes-brisbane/9449604
- Channel Ten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyze2_gSvyY
My research supported by the UQ Cyber Seed funding has led to enhancements in the design of the AI suit that our industry partner – Ariel Care Pty Ltd is building. Building functionalities around moisture detection and hoisting capabilities on smart beds were specific contributions of my research. This project and the role of UQ has been well discussed on the ABC News: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-25/are-high-tech-homes-the-future-for-assisted-living/101695802
Works
Search Professor Dhaval Vyas’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Conference Publication
Shedding ageist perceptions of making: creativity in older adult maker communities
Anderson, India and Vyas, Dhaval (2022). Shedding ageist perceptions of making: creativity in older adult maker communities. C&C '22: Creativity and Cognition, Venice, Italy, 20-23 June 2022. New York, United States: Association for Computing Machinery. doi: 10.1145/3527927.3532800
2022
Journal Article
Towards a Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Challenges in Refugee Re-settlement
Almohamed, Asam Hamed Abbas, Talhouk, Reem and Vyas, Dhaval (2022). Towards a Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Challenges in Refugee Re-settlement. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 6 (GROUP) 3492856, 1-29. doi: 10.1145/3492856
2022
Conference Publication
Making in/with Nature: Lessons from an Eco-village for Sustainable Making
Tao, Hongyi and Vyas, Dhaval (2022). Making in/with Nature: Lessons from an Eco-village for Sustainable Making. 9th Congress of the International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR 2021), Hong Kong, China, 5–9 December 2021. Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-4472-7_1
2021
Conference Publication
Multisensory augmented reality
Karunanayaka, Kasun, Nijholt, Anton, Halloluwa, Thilina, Ranasinghe, Nimesha, Wickramasinghe, Manjusri and Vyas, Dhaval (2021). Multisensory augmented reality. Multisensory Augmented Reality, Virtual, 30 Aug 2021. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-85607-6_77
2021
Conference Publication
DIY homes: placemaking in rural eco-homes
Tao, Hongyi and Vyas, Dhaval (2021). DIY homes: placemaking in rural eco-homes. 18th IFIP TC 13 International Conference, Bari, Italy, 30 August-3 September 2021. Bari, Italy: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-85613-7_25
2021
Conference Publication
A gendered perspective on making from an autoethnography in makerspaces
Hedditch, Sonali and Vyas, Dhaval (2021). A gendered perspective on making from an autoethnography in makerspaces. DIS '21: Designing Interactive Systems Conference, Online, 28 June - 2 July 2021. New York, NY, United States: ACM. doi: 10.1145/3461778.3462015
2021
Conference Publication
Critical moments: supporting homeless journeys through design
Chandra, Rashmi and Vyas, Dhaval (2021). Critical moments: supporting homeless journeys through design. CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems , Yokohama, Japan, May 2021. New York, NY, United States: Association for Computing Machinery. doi: 10.1145/3411763.3451790
2021
Journal Article
Exploring entrepreneurial activities in marginalized widows: a case from rural Sri Lanka
Rathnayake, Upul Anuradha, Halloluwa, Thilina, Bandara, Pradeepa, Narasinghe, Medhani and Vyas, Dhaval (2021). Exploring entrepreneurial activities in marginalized widows: a case from rural Sri Lanka. ACM Proceedings on Human-Computer Interaction, 5 (CSCW1) 142, 1-24. doi: 10.1145/3449216
2021
Conference Publication
Framework for user-centered access to electric charging facilities via energy-trading blockchain
Patel, Ankit R., Trivedi, Gargi, Vyas, Dhaval R., Mihaita, Adriana-Simona and Padmanaban, Sanjeevikumar (2021). Framework for user-centered access to electric charging facilities via energy-trading blockchain. 24th International Symposium on Wireless Personal Multimedia Communication (WPMC) - Paving the Way for Digital and Wireless Transformation, Okayama, Japan, 14-16 December 2021. Rundle Mall, SA, Australia: Causal Productions. doi: 10.1109/WPMC52694.2021.9700475
2020
Conference Publication
Seeking a new normal: refugee discourse on social media forums
Anderson, India, Hebbani, Aparna and Vyas, Dhaval (2020). Seeking a new normal: refugee discourse on social media forums. 32nd Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Sydney, NSW, Australia , December 2020. New York, United States: Association for Computing Machinery. doi: 10.1145/3441000.3441072
2020
Conference Publication
Life improvements: DIY in low socio-economic status communities
Vyas, Dhaval (2020). Life improvements: DIY in low socio-economic status communities. CSCW '20 Companion: Conference Companion Publication of the 2020 on Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing, Minneapolis, MN United States, October 2020. New York, NY United States: ACM. doi: 10.1145/3406865.3418325
2020
Conference Publication
Magic Machines for Refugees
Almohamed, Asam, Zhang, Jinglan and Vyas, Dhaval (2020). Magic Machines for Refugees. 3rd ACM SIGCAS Conference on Computing and Sustainable Societies, Guayaquil, Equador, 14-17 June 2020 . New York, NY United States: ACM. doi: 10.1145/3378393.3402256
2019
Journal Article
Rebuilding social capital in refugees and asylum seekers
Almohamed, Asam and Vyas, Dhaval (2019). Rebuilding social capital in refugees and asylum seekers. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 26 (6) 41, 1-30. doi: 10.1145/3364996
2019
Journal Article
Altruism and wellbeing as care work in a craft-based maker culture
Vyas, Dhaval (2019). Altruism and wellbeing as care work in a craft-based maker culture. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 3 (GROUP) 239, 1-12. doi: 10.1145/3361120
2019
Journal Article
Making at the margins: making in an under-resourced e-waste recycling centre
Vyas, Dhaval and Vines, John (2019). Making at the margins: making in an under-resourced e-waste recycling centre. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 3 (CSCW) 188, 1-23. doi: 10.1145/3359290
2019
Journal Article
More than step count: designing a workplace-based activity tracking system
Vyas, Dhaval, Halloluwa, Thilina, Heinzler, Nikolaj and Zhang, Jinglan (2019). More than step count: designing a workplace-based activity tracking system. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 24 (5), 627-641. doi: 10.1007/s00779-019-01305-1
2019
Conference Publication
Extended reality for refugees: pragmatic ideas through ethnographic research with refugees in Australia
Almohamed, Asam, Dey, Arindam, Zhang, Jinglan and Vyas, Dhaval (2019). Extended reality for refugees: pragmatic ideas through ethnographic research with refugees in Australia. IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), Beijing, China, 14-18 October 2019. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. doi: 10.1109/ISMAR-Adjunct.2019.00046
2019
Conference Publication
Dhana Labha: A financial management application to underbanked communities in Rural Sri Lanka
Halloluwa, Thilina and Vyas, Dhaval (2019). Dhana Labha: A financial management application to underbanked communities in Rural Sri Lanka. INTERACT 2019: Human-Computer Interaction, Paphos, Cyprus, 2–6 September 2019. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-29384-0_45
2018
Journal Article
Sociocultural practices that make microfinance work: a case study from Sri Lanka
Halloluwa, Thilina, Usoof, Hakim and Vyas, Dhaval (2018). Sociocultural practices that make microfinance work: a case study from Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 2 (CSCW) 65, 1-22. doi: 10.1145/3274334
2018
Journal Article
A personal perspective on the value of cross-cultural fieldwork
Berger, Arne and Vyas, Dhaval (2018). A personal perspective on the value of cross-cultural fieldwork. Interactions, 25 (3), 61-65. doi: 10.1145/3194335
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Dhaval Vyas is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Fostering “Making” Practices in People from Low Socio-Economic Backgrounds - PhD scholarship
This project aims to foster making and DIY (do-it-yourself) practices in low socioeconomic status (SES) communities. Working closely with an e-waste recycling makerspace based in Brisbane, this project will study the existing practices of makers from low SES and involve them in co-designing a technology that will help them in their future making activities.
Outcomes of this project will include:
- An alternative narrative on makerspaces, backed by empirical data, on the role DIY and making practices play within low SES communities.
- An innovative co-design method that will involve ‘making workshops’ to bootstrap development of ideas for empowerment and creativity.
- Self-made, DIY technology prototypes that support low SES members in their specific needs.
- A theory of ‘Creative Collaboration’ for engaging people from low SES backgrounds in DIY and making practices.
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Connecting Making and Health in Communal Makerspaces - PhD Scholarship
This PhD project will be part of an Australian Research Council grant. The project aims to understand connections between making and health, and explores ways through designing technologies to support and foster making. It aims to study communal maker organizations such as men’s shed, women’s craft groups, and library-based maker organizations.
Outcomes of this project will include:
- An empirical understanding of creative collaborative practices at communal makerspaces, using participatory and ethnographic approaches.
- A theory that establishes relationship between health and making.
- A user-centric technology that enables and fosters making in communal settings.
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Designing for Under-served Communities (Multiple opportunities)
I am looking for PhD, Master's and Bachelor's students to work on a wide range of projects.
The Compassion Lab focuses on developing technologies for under-served communities in order to bring about social change, and improvement to their health and wellbeing. It has a strong user-centric focus that aims to study issues at the grass-root level using ethnography and involve people in the design and development of technological solutions.
Target Domains and Communities (including but not limited to):
- Low SES Communities
- Refugees and Asylum Seekers
- Women in Crisis Situations
- Rural Communities in Developing Countries
- Older Adults
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
IoT and Smart Homes for People with Disabilities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marie Boden
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Doctor Philosophy
Using Human-Centered Design Approach to Support Refugee Entrepreneurial Pathways
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stephen Viller
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Doctor Philosophy
Human-Centered Independent Living for People with Paraplegia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Melanie Hoyle, Dr Wei Qi Koh
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing inclusive and culturally sensitive design guidelines for AI-enabled smart homes for people with disabilities in developing countries, based on local needs, preferences, and values
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim Miller, Associate Professor Guangdong Bai
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Master Philosophy
Critical Making and Design Ethics: A Foucauldian Perspective on Surveillance, Control and Biopower in Designed Digital Interactivity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stephen Viller
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Doctor Philosophy
Designing technologies for newly-arrived humanitarian entrants: Fostering a sense of home during early-stage resettlement
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Aparna Hebbani
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Doctor Philosophy
Designing Digital Technologies for Grassroots Sustainable Practices in Eco-Villages
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Paola Leardini, Dr Fred Fialho Leandro Alves Teixeira
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Leapfrogging women who are refugees and migrants (WRAMs) into STEM skills through Makerspaces
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Henman
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2023
Master Philosophy
Making for Others: Connecting Men's Sheds and Society Through "Making"
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Worthy
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Dhaval Vyas directly for media enquiries about:
- CSCW
- Human Computer Interaction
- Makerspace
- MobileHCI
- Ubiquitous Computing
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