I am Chee Siang Ang (also known informally as Jim Ang), Senior Lecturer in Multimedia and Digital Systems in the School of Computing, University of Kent. Before joining Kent, I was a research fellow at the Centre for Human Computer Interaction Design , City University London, where I completed my PhD in the area of social gaming. I hold a Master’s degree (Information Technology) from Multimedia University Malaysia and I obtained my BSc. (computing) from the Technology University of Malaysia.
My main research interest lies in the general area of HCI (human-computer interaction) with an emphasis on digital health. Specific areas include:
I am a member of the following research groups:
I am actively involved in multidisciplinary research in digital health. My research approach is centred around co-design healthcare systems to achieve real-world impacts through an in-depth understanding of stakeholders and healthcare organisational contexts. Currently, my research focuses on designing, developing and deploying digital technologies, such as virtual/augmented reality, sensing technologies integrated with machine learning in real-world settings to improve the quality of healthcare and ultimately to improve human wellbeing. I am generally curious to study how emerging technologies affect various aspects of our lives; e.g. I have researched in the past social behaviour in online communities, and how the Internet of Things can have a positive impact on education and energy consumption.
Computers applications today are not restricted to conventional 2D displays, but can be in forms of 3D immersive visualisation and augmented information embedded in the physical world. Traditionally, this new form of computing has mostly been found in entertainment applications such as games but is increasingly making an impact in other more “serious” application domains such as training and healthcare. I work with psychologists and psychiatrists looking into how virtual reality (VR) and gaming technologies can be used in assessment and interventions in mental health. Recently, we have developed VR applications for anxiety disorder training, eating disorder therapy, pain management and emotion detection with VR eye-tracking.
I collaborate closely with researchers in electronic and mechanical engineering to develop integrated hardware and software online systems with an aim to solve people’s and societal problems through smart technology. For instance, I have developed a tangible interface using RFID tag on day-to-day objects that allows people with dementia to immerse in a 3D virtual world for reminiscence. I have also worked on projects designing and developing low-cost monitoring devices using skin-like sensors and 3D visualisation for biofeedback for Dysphagia therapy. A recent project involves the use of skin-like EMG and EEG sensors for eating behaviour tracking and real-time wheelchair control.
I am currently interested in supervising PhD projects in all the above areas, specifically in a) Study, design and evaluation of novel virtual reality/augmented reality/gaming technology for health and well being; b) Creative and innovative use of integrated hardware-software systems in various domains, with a focus on healthcare.
VR for healthcare