Dr Elisa Rubegni
Senior LecturerResearch Overview
My research lies within the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). I explore the socio-technical issues emerging from the use of interactive technology with the aim of understanding the complex interplay of artefacts, human mind, body, and environment. To meet this complexity, my approach combines psychology theories, social science methods and design practice, concretized in developing digital artefacts. My research is grounded on cultural psychology. and I investigate these issues by recognizing that a successful system can only be developed by fully understanding the fundamental role played by social interactions in the development of cognition, and in the process of "meaning making". Indeed, my research relies on an ecological approach valuing participatory design methods, qualitative and ethnographically informed investigations. I have explored these issues in a broad range of application areas and technologies (e.g. embedded and distributed systems in museums, tangible and gesture user interface in public spaces, large pervasive displays for communities and mobile technology for learning).
Research Interests
Within the HCI field I am an expert in Children-Computer Interaction (CCI). Specifically, I tackle questions about how to design and assess interactive technology that lead children to better develop narrative thinking, language, communication, personal and cognitive skills (i.e. creativity, social behaviour, and gender identity). My research aims at: 1) Advancing the understanding on the impact of digital technology on children for improving Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, 2) Identifying new methods to better include stakeholders within the process and uncover the socio-technical implications of their usage in the context, 3) Investigating the design space by developing concepts and prototypes within the context.
PhD Supervisions Completed
Grace Ataguba, 2019, University of Lincoln, School of Computer Science, minor changes
External Roles
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, MSc Exteranl examiner
PhD Supervision Interests
HCI, Interaction Design and Children, Design thinking, User experience research, technology in education , digital storytelling
CARE Kids
01/09/2024 → 31/10/2024
Research
DSI: EmpowerKids: Cultivating Critical AI Literacy for Gender Equity
01/08/2024 → 30/11/2024
Research
European Network For Gender Balance in Informatics
19/10/2020 → 18/10/2024
Research
Spring-a-story Lancashire
01/01/2020 → 31/03/2020
Research
ACM Interaction Design and Children (IDC) (Event)
Editorial activity
Carolina Rutta
Hosting a Student (PhD)
NTNU, Norway
Visiting an external academic institution
International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction (Journal)
Editorial activity
- Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Centre
- LIRA - Society and Human Behaviour
- SCC (Pervasive Systems)