SCENE Lab
SCENE Lab
User-centric and User2User-interactive Data Analytics and Data Science Lab
Lab Lead
Collaborators
Dr. J. Wang; Dr. L. Shi ; Dr. C. Stewart; Filippo Sciarrone; Stefano D’Urso; Giora Alexandron
Visitors 2024-25: Dave Crawford; Dr. Ana Serrano Mamolar; Asaf Salman
Abstract
The User-centric and User2User-interactive Data Analytics and Data Science (SCENE) Lab promotes the move from the traditional computer-driven data analytics, to the ubiquitous computing data analytics, in the areas of personalisation and adaptation to uni-, bi- or multi-user environments. SCENE allows hands-on research on personalisation and user-interaction based on data-rich devices and applications for applied areas, such as society, education, business, law, health. SCENE explores future belonging to virtual- (VR), augmented- (AR), extended- (XR), mixed- (MR) and cross-reality solutions (jointly called ‘ÍCR’, as representing subsets of CR), applying personalisation to ÍCR, as in augmented, personalised reality, or virtual adaptive reality, to simulate the expected ubiquitousness of the user-centric view. Moreover, SCENE scrutinises how this user-centricity can be supported in dyads, triads, tetrads, and other small-scale user formations. SCENE contains kit such as Hololenses, VR headsets Valve Index, 3D Printer, 3D Scanner, BCI Headsets (NeuroSky, EMOTIV), ultrahaptic devices (STRATOS).
The SCENE lab welcomes PhD student applicants, academic visitors, PhD student visitors and any collaborators. Please contact lab lead for more information.
Background
We have for a long time now, for many centuries, moved from the old-fashioned concept of encyclopaedic brains to the notion of extended memory– extending our memory with devices, such as books, microfiche, computers, laptops, mobile phones, etc. Furthermore, new generations are raised in a multi-source, multi-channel and multi-tasking world and can not only handle, but expect an information-rich environment. In spite these developments, and the fact that data ‘is the new oil’[1], data continues to be generated and is needed to be processed in a human-oriented way. Personalisation of data, based on data analytics and visualisation has been and is a strong and growing research area. However, this research cannot be confined to our computers anymore – augmented reality is already here, it is ubiquitous, and is rapidly expanding. This rapid progress affects all layers of society, and all application areas.
All the time, new devices are being created, such as the HoloLens, transparent projector screens, to name but a few, with each type of device opening up a new world of interactivity.
Thus, the existing expertise in personalisation and adaptation on one hand, and Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics on the other, requires expansion and reoriented towards the area of augmented, personalised reality and, to some extent, virtual adaptive reality, to simulate the expected ubiquitousness of the user-centric view. Moreover, it is useful to understand how this user-centricity continues to be supported in dyads, triads, tetrads, and other small-scale formations.
Sample Research Questions
The SCENE Lab researches personalisation and user interaction based on data-rich devices and applications for applied areas, such as society, education, business, law, health.
It is important to move from the computer-driven data analytics to the ubiquitous computing data analytics in the areas of personalisation and adaptation to uni-, bi- or multi-user environments.
The research should address several research questions, examples of which are:
- How can wide-scale, rapid and pervasive data collection be personalised in real-time to lead the delivery of a context driven digital environment?
- How can augmented learning content be perceived by learners, when compared to traditional learning content?
- How can pairs of people change their discourse when the topic is augmented?
- How can dyads, triads, tetrads, etc., leader-less and leader-based groups etc. function in augmented reality environments, when compared to traditional environments?
[1] https://www.economist.com/leaders/2017/05/06/the-worlds-most-valuable-resource-is-no-longer-oil-but-data
Sample Projects & Outcomes
Interactivity and Presence impact on Immersive Virtual Reality
This research is looking at a learning VR environment for Chemistry. The purpose is to understand how interactivity and presence affect learning in immersive virtual reality. Project lead is Nicola Fern, senior digital learning developer at DCAD, and PhD student. Supervisors are Dr. Craig Stewart, Professor Sam Nolan, Professor Alexandra I. Cristea.
https://durham.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=ed2c8685-68a4-4d86-b610-b18c016d314b
Natural Language Processing for a Personalised Educational Experience in Virtual Reality
○Alghamdi, N., & Cristea, A. I. (2024, July). Natural Language Processing for a Personalised Educational Experience in Virtual Reality. Presented at Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED 2024), Recife, Brazil Durham Research Online
○Alghamdi, N., & Cristea, A. I. (2024, July). Natural Language Processing for a Personalised Educational Experience in Virtual Reality. Presented at Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED 2024), Recife, Brazil Durham Research Online
○Alghamdi, N., & Cristea, A. I. (2024, August). Integrating Speech Input in Educational Immersive Virtual Reality Applications: A Systematic Review. Presented at 2024 IEEE 12th International Conference on Intelligent Systems (IS), Varna, Bulgaria Durham Research Online
Harnessing the Power of EEG and VR to Enhance Mental Health and Cognitive Abilities
○Pan, Z., Cristea, A. I., & Li, F. W. B. (2024, July). Reducing University Students’ Exam Anxiety via Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in VR with Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback. Presented at AIED 2024: Artificial Intelligence in Education, Recife, Brazil Durham Research Online
○Chang, H., Pan, Z., & Cristea, A. I. (2024, July). Virtual Reality (VR) in Safety Education: A Case Study of Mining Engineering. Presented at AIED 2024: Artificial Intelligence in Education, Recife, Brazil Durham Research Onlin
○Pan, Z., & Cristea, A. I. (2024, June). Towards Neuro-Enhanced Education: A Systematic Review of BCI-Assisted Development for Non-academic Skills and Abilities. Presented at ITS 2024: Generative Intelligence and Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Thessaloniki, GreeceDurham Research Online
BETTER: An automatic feedback system for supporting emotional speech training
○Wynn, A., & Wang, J., 2023. BETTER: An Automatic feedBack systEm for supporTing emoTional spEech tRaining. In Artificial Intelligence in Education. Durham Research Online
○Wynn, A. T., Wang, J., Umezawa, K., & Cristea, A. I., 2022. An AI-Based Feedback Visualisation System for Speech Training. In Artificial Intelligence in Education. Posters and Late Breaking Results, Workshops and Tutorials, Industry and Innovation Tracks, Practitioners’ and Doctoral Consortium (510-514). Durham Research Online
Semi-automatic literature review for Biosciences
○Hodgson, R., Wang, J., Cristea, A.I., Matsuzaki, F. and Kubota, H., 2022. A Topic-Centric Crowdsourced Assisted Biomedical Literature Review Framework for Academics. EDM’22. A Topic-Centric Crowdsourced Assisted Biomedical Literature Review Framework for Academics (educationaldatamining.org)
Personalised Journalism for the Media Industry
○Hodgson, R., Wang, J., Cristea, A., 2022. Hybrid Weighted Retrieval of Twitter Users for Temporally Relevant Full-Text Querying in the Media Industry. In 13th International Congress on Advanced Applied Informatics Winter (IIAI-AAI-Winter)Hybrid Weighted Retrieval of Twitter Users for Temporally Relevant Full-Text Querying in the Media Industry – Durham Research Online
Upcoming Events
•AIED 2025: The 26th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, 22-26 July, Palermo, Italy AIED2025
•ECTEL 2025: The 20th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, September 2025, , Newcastle and Durham, UK ECTEL 2025
Past related Events
•AIED 2022: The 23rd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, 27-31 July, Durham University, UK AIED2022 (durham.ac.uk), Core A international conference tool place in Durham
•EDM 2022 is the 15th iteration of the Educational Data Mining Conference Series EDM2022 (durham.ac.uk), international conference tool place in Durham