Fang Chen

I have more than twenty five years experience with research within a broad area in physical and cognitive ergonomics, human factors, man-machine interaction and human–computer interaction. I also have extensive experience in project leadership, teaching, and supervising within these areas. Besides, I have expert knowledge in methodology and statistical analysis for both experimental and field studies. My research activities include a list of over 80 research publications and books. Furthermore, I have gained experience in presenting research results at international conferences and also served as an opponent of fellow researchers’ works. These experiences have allowed me to establish good contacts with other researchers in both National and International arenas.

My research interests have been focus in the following different areas:

1. Multimodal interactions, focus on speech interaction design and 3D auditory presentation
2. Human-computer interaction and usability issues
3. Human factors and interaction design on future vehicles
4. Interaction design for the information systems to support the decision making during crisis management

Professional preparation

Peking University, China, Biology, B. Sc Degree, 1983
Luleå Technical University, Industrial Ergonomics, M.Sc. Degree, 1991
Linköping University, Industrial Ergonomics and Climate Physiology. Ph.D., 1997
Linköping University, Multimodal Interface design, Docent, 2003

Appointments

2004- present
Associate Professor, Interaction design group, Department of Computing Science and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
I am teaching the courses for undergraduate students, M.Sc. students and Ph.D. students. I am leading different research projects that cover broad areas as listed above.

1997- 2003
Assistant Professor, Division of Industrial Ergonomics, Linköping Institute of Technology, Linköping, Sweden
Project leader for two research projects concerning Human-computer-interaction: human factors in 3D audio presentation and human factors in speech technology application. The projects were financed by the Defence Material Administration. Research results have led to new projects to integrate multi-modal applications in complex control systems.

1991-1997
Research Engineer with the Climate Research Group, Working Life Institute, Solna, Sweden
Member of research teams working on the ergonomics of conducting work in cold environments and the design of work area and workers’ protection. My scientific publications on conducting work in cold environments and design of work area and workers’ protection have become the basis for a six-year-long European Union project.

1983-1989
Assistant Researcher, Division for Work Physiology, National Institute of Occupational Medicine, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, China
Research on measurement of physical workload and the evaluation and prediction of work related injuries.

Research experience

From 1997 to 2004, my research interests have focused on multimodal interaction design, specialized in auditory related technologies such as speech technology and 3d sound presentation. Most of these projects are financed by FMV (the Swedish Defence Material Administration) during these years. From year 2004, my research interests switched into two broader areas named vehicle interaction design and designing information supporting system for crisis managements. (from 1997 to 2003, I received about 2 million SEK per year from FMV)

I have participated in a few research projects, some of which have been completed, while others have just received funding and yet others are in the application process.

The projects that are financially supported:

• The project that was finished was FMV’s project (2003-2004): 3D-audio och DVI - demonstrationer för scenarier inom strid i bebyggelse. The results from these projects lead to several M.Sc. students’ projects (exjob) and a few project applications. Some research cooperation is established and preparing for future project application.
• The IIVLab (interactive information visualization lab) involves most research institutes and companies in Gothenburg working with either information visualization or interaction design. The Gothenburg Information Visualization Centre was established in 2007 and it is an 10 years project.
• The OPTIVe (OPTimized system Integration for safe Interaction In Vehicles) (www.optive.se) is a project that is lead by Volvo C. C. and is financed by IVSS. In this project, I am responsible for two work packages: 1. HMI for integrated active safety system; 2. HMI for Integrated Infotainment functions in Nomad devices. Two Ph.D. students are financed by this project. The projects started in Sept 2005, and will be finished in September 2009.
• EFESOS is a project that is lead by Volvo C. C. And is financed by FFI/VINNOVA. The project will start in the Spring of 2010 and at least 2 Ph.D. students will be financed by this project.
• Security Arena- a national arena for research and method development regarding societal safety and security http://www.lindholmen.se/ext/securityarena_en.php. One Ph.D. student started in April 2008, on the subject of interaction design.
• The strategically research on Intelligent transportation system. Most research groups working on ITS at Chalmers university have been participating into this multiple disciplinary project work. Started from 2010.
• VAAS: System för Undvikande av Fordonsrelaterade Olyckor (System for avoiding vehicle related accident). It is a project leads by Mecel AB/Delphi E&S Sweden, with Volvo Car Company and Chalmers as the research partners.
• DEsing for Vulnerable generatIons: Children and Elderly / DEVICE (2012 to 2015) (EU FP7 project, in the LifeLong Learning program).

Organized and chaired special sessions on “Emerging Research: Human factors in Speech and Communication Systems” in The 8th International Conference on Spoken Language Processing, Interspeech 2004, ICSL. Jeju Island, Korea.

Organized and Chaired a special session on “Human factors, user experience and natural language application design” in the 9th European Conference on Speech Communication and Technology, Interspeech 2005, Lisboa.

Gave a tutorial lecture on “Usability Theory and Practice in Speech-based Interaction System Design” at the 9th European Conference on Speech Communication and Technology, Interspeech 2005, Lisboa.

Jointly organizing a multiple-session Auditory Ergonomics Symposium in the IEA Triennial Conference, which will be held in Maastricht in The Netherlands, from July 10-14, 2006; and will chair the session on Automatic Speech Recognition.

In the organization committee for the conference APHCI 2006, October 11 to 14, Taipei, Taiwan.

Organized and chaired one session in HCII2007 conference, July 22 – 26, Beijing, China.

Organized one session in Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics 2008, 2nd International Conference, Las Vegas, USA, July 14-17.

Organizing a special session (The new challenges of future vehicle HMI design, towards safer and positive experiences) in IEA conference 2012.

I am the member of HFES (Human Factors and Engineering Society) since 1995.

Organizing the SAFER workshop on Speech Technology and Its Application in Vehicle, 2010, April 15th.

Organizing a special session “The new challenges of future vehicle HMI design, towards safer and positive experiences” at IEA 2012 conference in Brazil, Feb

Teaching experience

Doctoral Courses
Bio Mechanics and Work Physiology (7,5p)
Human Factors Research Methodology and Field Experimentation (7,5p)
Experimental Design and Statistical Methods (7,5p)

Undergraduate Courses
Human Computer Interaction (at Chalmers University)
User-Centred Design (at Chalmers University)
Human Factors in Road Safety (at Linköping University)
Ergonomics Design (at Linköping University)

Giving guest courses to other universities and companies
TsingHua University, Taiwan, Human factors and vehicle design (2006)
Yahoo design in Taiwan, The principle of interaction design and usability tests (2006)
Cincinnati University in USA, Traffic safety and vehicle design (2007)
Hunan University, China, Introduction to Human Computer Interaction (2008)

Tsinghua University, Beijing, Designing interactive system to support crises management (2009)

Peking University, Beijing, Designing the future Vehicle cockpit, problems and possible solutions (2009)

State intellectual property office, China, Usability and Internet Based Information Presentation Design, 2009.

The fundamental of HMI, Tsinghua University, 4 days intensive course. 2010

Designing decision supporting system for crisis management, 3 days intensive course 2011, Tsinghua University.

Synergistic Activities
Member of advisor board at SAFER center at Chalmers University, Sweden (2006 – present)
Member of supervisor group for OPTIVe project, Sweden (2005 – 2009)
Member of supervisor group for EFESOS project, Sweden (2009- present)
International advisory board member for APCHI (2006 – present)
International advisory board member for HCI (2006- 2007)
International advisory board member for ISCRAM (2010-present)
Paper Referee (2003 – present) for Human Factors and Engineering Society related conferences
Paper Referee (2003 – present) for Aviation Psychology annual conferences
Paper Referee (2004 – present) for ICSLP and EurpSpeech conferences
Paper Referee (2006 – present) for The International Journal of Industrial
Ergonomics
Paper Referee (2007 – present) for the international journal of Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction
Paper Referee (2009 – present) for the International conference on Automotive User Interface
Paper Referee (2010 – present) for the Pan-Pacific Conference on Ergonomics
Paper Referee (2010 – present) for International Symposium on Design and Research in Artificial and Natural Sciences