Critical and Human-Centred Infovis

INF2199: Critical and Human-Centred Approaches to Information Visualization is a master's-level course I developed (and currently teach) at the University of Toronto's iSchool. Through it, students acquire the ability to use and understand a number of emerging infovis methods, as well as to critically interrogate the application of infovis technologies in domains where they would not traditionally be encountered. Various critical topics are covered, including deceptive visualization and the growth of visualization literacy. A syllabus can be found here.

Tangibles for Augmenting Spatial Cognition (TASC)

As a postdoc in the Synlab at Ryerson, I lead the TASC research project in which we develop and study virtual game environments designed to facilitate embodied interaction in the context of spatial skill development. The TASC project has examined various interactive methods for engaging spatial skills like perspective taking and penetrative thinking. Future TASC work will focus on designing mixed reality experiences for mental rotation training, a crucial skill for the interpretation of 3D data graphics. A project video can be found here.

Denaturalizing Information Visualization

My doctoral research investigated how, behind the proliferation of infovis technologies, a number of opaque epistemic conventions structure practices of data analysis, sensemaking, argumentation, and persuasion. My dissertation, which is available here, argues that contemporary infovis practices and tools naturalize specific representational formats at the expense of emerging interaction methods. The dissertation contributes to an emerging body of critical infovis research that spans domains ranging from HCI to critical data studies.

The Digital Museum

MSL2303H: The Digital Museum is a master's-level course I developed in collaboration with Sabrina Greupner, Director for Science Engagement at the Ontario Science Centre. Sabrina and I currently teach it at the University of Toronto's iSchool. The course introduces students to museum-based interaction design methods, topics related to emerging digital technologies, and the consequences of a broad "digital transformation" in the GLAM sector. A course description can be found here.

InclusiVis

InclusiVis was a research project I developed and led that explored multisensory approaches to data visualization for blind and visually impaired users. It was motivated by the following question: As the ability to interpret and analyze data becomes an increasingly significant aspect of informed citizenship, how can multimodal approaches to data interaction make open civic data more accessible to blind and visually impaired citizens? The project's website can be found here.

Data Literacy Workshops

Collaborating with the Toronto Reference Library's Digital Innovation Hub, I created a professional development workshop to teach library digital literacy specialists how to find interesting civic datasets, visualize compelling stories using free and open source tools, and create 3D data models that can support public data literacy. I conducted a pilot workshop in August, 2018, with future events planned. A jupyter-based tutorial I prepared is available here.

MouvMat

MouvMat was an interactive digital gaming surface designed to encourage social and engaging physical activity for older adults. Supported by the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation and the AGE-WELL National Centre for Excellence, I developed a functional prototype which the research team used in two usability studies. More information about the MouvMat project can be found here.

Embodied Data Sublime

The Embodied Data Sublime was an experimental immersive visualization experience in which a user is placed inside an unfamiliar, alien 3D data landscape (including contour and scatter plots) and asked to discern patterns from it. I developed this in Blender and Unity for the HTC Vive, and have used it to experiment with a variety of novel data interactions. A video of it in use can be found here.

Naked Craft

Working with Arno Verhoeven from the School of Design at Edinburgh University, I prepared a variety of screen-based and tangible visualizations illuminating gestural data collected from a group of expert crafters. We presented these at an event celebrating Naked Craft, a collaborative research project between NSCAD University, The Art Gallery of Burlington, and Craft Ontario.