Research Term Cloud - generated from paper abstracts
Research Term Cloud - generated from paper abstracts
Talking on the main stage at CHI2011, picture by Lucy Buykx
Talking on the main stage at CHI2011, picture by Lucy Buykx
EPSRC funded DigiTOP Project, measuring Mental Workload
EPSRC funded DigiTOP Project, measuring Mental Workload
Exploring neuro-responsive cinematic experiences
Exploring neuro-responsive cinematic experiences
A new model of (lack of) control in modern HCI with autonomous systems.
A new model of (lack of) control in modern HCI with autonomous systems.
Using fNIRS to measure mental workload during tasks like information search.
Using fNIRS to measure mental workload during tasks like information search.
A Fitbit for the Brain - brain data as personal data.
A Fitbit for the Brain - brain data as personal data.
Our Google project is focused on confusing search, and search skills.
Our Google project is focused on confusing search, and search skills.
Using Bloom
Using Bloom's taxonomy to develop a new domain-agnostic measure of sensemaking and learning.
Model of Casual-leisure Searching (Award winning book chapter)
Model of Casual-leisure Searching (Award winning book chapter)
We are finding smarter ways of dividing our web history into sessions.
We are finding smarter ways of dividing our web history into sessions.
Mapping Urban Neighbourhoods from Internet Derived Data
Mapping Urban Neighbourhoods from Internet Derived Data
Information vs Interaction - separating and quantifying their benefits
Information vs Interaction - separating and quantifying their benefits
I also play double bass
I also play double bass

Recent News

  • Two new fNIRS articles - We've had two great outputs studying fNIRS in different forms of work (office work and manufacturing work), along with other measures of Mental Workload. See my latest publications.
  • New HCI Journal article - Bringing together insights from multiple projects, our latest article in the HCI Journal challenges the notions of control in modern HCI with autonomous systems.
  • CHI Steering Committee - I was pleased to be invited to volunteer on the CHI Steering Committee.
  • EU Funding - In June 2018, we secured Horizon2020 Innovation funding in collaboration with Brain+ and MindTech, and with University of Oxford and University of Aarhus, to study transfer effects from brain training in relation to Alzheimer's. We'll be working with our artinis fNIRS.
  • EPSRC Funding - In July 2018, we'll embark on a new £1.9M EPSRC project, measuring Mental Workload measurements in the wild in Digital Manufacturing, led by Prof Sarah Sharples.
  • IJHCS Deputy Editor - From 2019 I am pleased to take on the role of Deputy Editor at the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
  • SIGCHI Conferences Working Group - I joined Aaron Quigley et al on the SIGCHI Conferences Working Group, mainly supporting in-cooperation events within our community
  • Brain-Controlled Film - in the press - Our latest brain-controlled film - The MOMENT (imdb) has been covered by BBC News, BBC Click (starts 6:45 in or in brief), Sky News, MIT Technology Review, Futurism, Tech Explore, and the Daily Mail
  • Media Coverage - Our recent work on Favouriting behaviour on Twitter has been covered in online news and media: Slate | Washington Post | Buzzfeed | Dailydot | Brafton
Max L. Wilson

Media Appearances

In 2017, I appeared on BBC Radio 4 discussing social media data and online social influances. My work has also been covered in written news (inc Buzzfeed), and our Computerphile Youtube Channel now has over 1M subscribers. Checkout my contribution to the Brain Health Podcast

 

Consulting

I have consulted for sevaral large organisations, including on internal software design for Rolls Royce, and delivering social media training to the European Commission.

 

My Team

See Our Website.

Research Projects

PhD Students

Teaching

  • G51FSE - Software Engineering
  • G53DEV - Developer Experience

    • Past Teaching

  • G51REQ - Requirements Engineering
  • G53CCT - Collaboration and Communication Technologies
  • G54MXR (Mixed Reality), IR, and HCI Methods

    • Study with me

  • Undergrad/MSc project ideas


Past Students

Travel and Talks

  • 21-23 March, Brain+, Copenhagen
  • 4-10 May, CHI2019, Glasgow, UK
  • 24 May, Uni Leicester, UK
  • Jun 16-19, MSR Faculty Summit, Seattle, USA
  • Aug TBC, University of Southampton, UK
  • Oct TBC, University of St Andrews, UK
  • Nov 15-17, NWERC 2019, Eindhoven, Netherlands
  • Dec 4-8, CHI2020 PC Meeting, Bloomington Indiana
  • Dec 9th, SIGCHI CSCC Meeting, NYC
  • Jan 15-18, CHI Steering Committee, New Orleans
  • Apr 25-30, CHI2020, Honolulu
  • Who knows?

Bio

I am an Associate Professor in Human-Computer Interaction and Information Retrieval, in the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham, UK. My research continues to sit between Human-Computer Interaction and Information Retrieval, including InteractiveIR and Information Seeking. While my PhD examined Search User Interfaces and evaluated search behaviour, we created more powerful and equally 'more complicated' user interfaces. Since 2011, I have focused on evaluating the cognitive efforts involved in user interaction. Working with Prof. Sarah Sharples (Human Factors), I have began to examine Mental Workload as a measurable concept, and started working with functional Near Infrard Spectroscopy as a means to estimate it in 'near natural' contexts. My recent focus, therefore, has been on evaluating Mental Workload changes created during tasks, and by user interfaces, whilst maintaining an interest in search user interface design. My doctoral work, which won best article in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology in 2009, focused on evaluating Search User Interfaces using models of Human Information Seeking behaviours. I received my PhD from the University of Southampton, under the supervision of m.c. schraefel and Dame Wendy Hall. Consequently, much of my past work has been grounded in supporting Exploratory Search with the mSpace platform, and within the then developing context of Web Science.

I publish broadly in Human-Computer Interaction and Information Science communities, including a book on Search User Interface Design, a monograph with co-authors schraefel, Kules, and Shneiderman on future Search User Interfaces for the web, and a book chapter on Search User Interface Design in a new IIR textbook. I also actively participate in both communities, running workshops, sitting IP&M and IJHCS editorial boards, the CHIIR steering committee, and have contributed to the CHI conference committee each year (except 2012) since CHI2010.