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Dr Lydia Lau MBCS CITP

Welcome

I am a Lecturer in the School of Computing at the University of Leeds. Within the School's research activities, I am a member of the Collaborative Systems and Performance Group in the Institute for Computational and Systems Science and a member of the reading group which provides a forum for discussions relating to intelligence augmentation.

I obtained my BSc in Computational Science and Management Studies, and PhD in Information Systems. My research aim is to conceptualise good design principles for collaborative systems. Technologies have made considerable advances over the years and innovative design ideas emerge to push the boundaries and to facilitate new ways for people to interact with each other over the 'virtual world'. I am particular keen to address the design issues from the infrastructural angle (people, information, processes and systems) with a high level of usability and sustainability.

Recent work examines the use of semantics and social computing for capturing evolving practices and knowledge sharing in communities. Application domains include: identification of suitable expert witness for dispute resolution; use of electronic laboratory notebooks for capturing and sharing provenance of scientific studies; and capturing and sense making of experiences for learning.

Funded projects:

  • One of investigators in "STRAPP: Trusted Digital Spaces through Timely Reliable and Personalised Provenance"; Trusted Services, Collaborative R&D and Fast-Track Funding, 2010, Technology Strategy Board. (Apr 2011 - Mar 2014)
  • Principal investigator (Leeds) in "Dicode - Mastering Data-Intensive Collaboration and Decision Making"; EU FP7 - 4.3: Intelligent Information Management; co-ordinated by Nikos Karacapilidis, Research Academic Computer Technology Institute, Patras. (Sept 2010 - Aug 2013)
  • Co-investigator (Leeds) in "ImREAL - Immersive Reflective Experience-based Adaptive Learning"; EU FP7 - 4.2: Technology Enhanced Learning; co-ordinated by Vania Dimitrova, School of Computing, Leeds. (Oct 2010 - Sept 2013)
  • Co-investigator in "AWESOME Dissertation Environment (ADE): Realising benefits for HEA Subject Centres - Philosophy case study", Emerge Widening Stakeholder Fund, JISC.
  • Co-investigator in "Academic Writing Empowered by Social Online Mediated Environments (AWESOME)", JISC.
  • Principal investigator in "Integration of Human Factors into the Design of Virtual Project Management Software", KTP.
  • Co-investigator in "A methodology for distributed information management within an intranet environment", Industrial funding.

    • Other recent experiments with innovations in teaching:

  • 2009: Use of Second Life (a 3D virtual social environment) in a level 2 computing module (COMP2445).
  • 2009: Contributed a case study on "Use of audio feedback to foster a sense of care on learning progress in an online module" to JISC Audio projects.
  • 2008: Designed and developed an online module for Effective Personal Computing (COMP1006), including use of collaborative tools, Wikis and Blogs.

    • I was involved in the running of the MSc programmes during 1992 - 2005 in various capacities. I was the Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies in 96-97 and 99-05. I have taught a range of subjects including:

  • at the Masters level - Information Modelling; Future Directions (portfolio work); Collaborative Internet Architectures and Systems; Virtual Working Environments and Office Automation.
  • at the Undergraduate level - Database Applications and Graphics; Effective Personal Computing (online module); People-Centred Information Systems Development; E-Commerce Information Systems; Internet Systems Technologies; Computing for All; Office Automation / Cooperative Information Systems; Business Process Re-engineering; Fourth Generation Languages and Prototyping; Commercial Programming Environments; and Design of Computer-Based Systems.

    • Current research students:

  • Simon Caruana - on Acquisition and Accreditation of Soft Skills in HE using ICT (joint with School of Education)
  • Dimoklis Despotakis - on Context-enriched activity modelling
  • Zulkifly Mohd Zaki - on using Electronic Laboratory Notebook approach for the provenance problem in e-research communities
  • Siraya Sitthisarn - on semantically-enabled legal professional networks with expert witness discovery for dispute resolution

    • Research students completed:

  • Tran Vu Pham (PhD), A Collaborative e-Science Architecture for Distributed Scientific Communities.
  • Yang Tian (PhD), Towards a Sustainable Knowledge Sharing Environment for Online Research Communities.
  • Mingfang Wu (MRes), A Real-Time Conferencing System for Engineering Teamwork with Conference Management Facilities.

    Last update: 4 Nov 2011