Social Innovation and Digital Health Design Researcher • PhD in HCI from Open Lab Newcastle University •
Vice Director of Digital Innovation Unit • Assistant Professor at KSU • Founder and leader of the ArabHCI Community.
About
I am Ebtisam Alabdulqader, a social innovation and digital health design researcher. I am a computer scientist with more than 10 years of experience in Human-Computer Interaction. I hold a PhD degree in Computer Science and Digital Health Interaction Design from Open lab at Newcastle University. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor in the Information Technology Department, College of Computer and Information Sciences (CCIS) at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – my home country. Also, I am the Vice Director of Digital Innovation at Entrepreneurship Institute.
My research interests are in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), Social Computing and Innovation, Participatory and Interaction Design. My work is motivated by community-driven design, research and practices and I find it thought-provoking to innovate design ideas and new digital solutions that stem from the community engagement.
I also work on HCI topics related to the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I), Femenist HCI, CHI Inclusion, CHIveristy, and Islamic HCI. I am an active professional member of SIGCHI community with a history of volunteer work with the leading international community of professionals interested in research, education and the practical application of HCI; in addition to reviewing and serving as a program committee in top venues in the HCI field such as CHI, CSCW, DIS and many others.
Besides my work and research, I’m also engaged in STEM programs for promoting computer science careers in Saudi Arabia. I am also passionate about promoting the HCI field in the Arab world and increasing the visibility of Arab HCI researchers, hence I established the ArabHCI community, on September 2016.
Projects
eSALT – participatory design of smartphone video coaching technology to support early speech and language therapy for very young children with cerebral palsy. The study conducted in collaboration with Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust and funded by the charity SPARKS.
ePACT – self-directed coaching technology to support the preschool autism communication therapy. The study held in collaboration with the PACT-G team from Manchester University to support the ‘Parent-mediated social communication therapy for young children with autism’ intervention.
Mito patients engagement technology – patient-centred design concepts around technologies to connect & support patients. The Study held in collaboration with the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research based in the Medical School of Newcastle University.
Organisations
ArabHCI Initiative . Founder
Professional ACM and SIGCHI . Member
Ebtisam A.Q. 