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
2007
Conference Publication
Panorama - Explorations in the aesthetics of social awareness
Eliëns, Anton and Vyas, Dhaval (2007). Panorama - Explorations in the aesthetics of social awareness. 8th International Conference on Intelligent Games and Simulation, Bologna Italy, Nov 20-22, 2007. GHENT: EUROSIS.
2007
Conference Publication
Engineering social awareness in work environments
Vyas, Dhaval, Van De Watering, Marek R., Eliëns, Anton and Van Der Veer, Gerrit C. (2007). Engineering social awareness in work environments. 4th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, UAHCI 2007, , , July 22, 2007-July 27, 2007. BERLIN: SPRINGER-VERLAG BERLIN.
2007
Conference Publication
Experiencing-in-the-world: Using pragmatist philosophy to design for aesthetic experience
Vyas, Dhaval, Eliëns, Anton, Heylen, Dirk and Nijholt, Anton (2007). Experiencing-in-the-world: Using pragmatist philosophy to design for aesthetic experience. 2007 Conference on Designing for User eXperiences, DUX'07, , , November 5, 2007-November 7, 2007. New York, NY, USA: ACM. doi: 10.1145/1389908.1389919
2007
Conference Publication
Searching and archiving: exploring online search behaviors of researchers
Vyas, Dhaval, de Groot, Spencer and van der Veer, Gerrit (2007). Searching and archiving: exploring online search behaviors of researchers. HCI International 2007, Beijing, China, July 2007.
2006
Conference Publication
Rich evaluations of entertainment experience: Bridging the interpretational gap
Vyas, Dhaval and Van Der Veer, Gerrit C. (2006). Rich evaluations of entertainment experience: Bridging the interpretational gap. New York, NY, USA: ACM. doi: 10.1145/1274892.1274921
2006
Conference Publication
Experience as meaning: Some underlying concepts and implications for design
Vyas, Dhaval and Van Der Veer, Gerrit C. (2006). Experience as meaning: Some underlying concepts and implications for design. New York, NY, USA: ACM. doi: 10.1145/1274892.1274906
2006
Conference Publication
Affordance in interaction
Vyas, Dhaval, Chisalita, Cristina M. and Van Der Veer, Gerrit C. (2006). Affordance in interaction. New York, NY, USA: ACM. doi: 10.1145/1274892.1274907
2006
Conference Publication
Understanding the academic environments: Developing personas from field-studies
Vyas, Dhaval, De Groot, Spencer and Van Der Veer, Gerrit C. (2006). Understanding the academic environments: Developing personas from field-studies. 13th European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics: Trust and Control in Complex Socio-technical Systems, ECCE-13, , , September 20, 2006-September 22, 2006. New York, NY, USA: ACM. doi: 10.1145/1274892.1274915
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Dhaval Vyas is:
- Available for supervision
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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
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
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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
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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