← Research Areas

Software Engineering & User Experience

Inclusive and accessible solution design, tactile graphics for cultural heritage, accessible textile labels for visually impaired consumers, learning environments for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and AI tools integrated into design processes.

The Software Engineering & User Experience research line focuses on designing intuitive, effective, and inclusive digital systems. The group emphasizes human-centered design methodologies, accessibility research, and the intersection of computing with design.

Inclusive Design

Research in this area explores how technology can serve populations with diverse abilities:

  • Tactile graphics representing colonial tiles and other cultural artifacts, enabling visually impaired individuals to engage with heritage objects.
  • Accessible textile labels designed for interaction between fashion products and consumers with visual impairments, employing NFC, QR codes, and audio descriptions.
  • ASD Learning Environments: digital tools and gamified experiences specifically designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, validated through participatory design sessions.

AI-Augmented Design Processes

Investigation of how generative AI and machine learning can assist designers in ideation, prototyping, and evaluation, including automated UX evaluation frameworks and AI-driven design critique tools.

Ergonomic Evaluation

In partnership with SESI, the ErgoTech system enables field ergonomic evaluation of worker activities using image acquisition via smartphones. Captured video is segmented into activity phases, and posture data (arms, dorso, legs, load, displacement) is automatically classified and visualized through color-coded risk charts.

Projects in this Area

Active

ErgoTech — Ergonomic Work Assessment

SESI — Industry Social Service

Smartphone-based ergonomic evaluation system for worker activities. Field evaluators capture video of work tasks; the system segments activities, classifies posture risk across body segments (arms, back, legs, load, displacement) and generates color-coded ergonomic risk reports.

  • Smartphone-native video capture for field ergonomists
  • Automated posture classification across 5 body segments
  • Color-coded risk charts (green / yellow / orange / red)
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