Faculty

Bio

Zhen Bai is an Assistant Professor in the ROCHCI group in the Department of Computer Science, University of Rochester. Her research focuses on creating embodied and intelligent interfaces that transcend learning, communication and wellbeing for people with diverse abilities and backgrounds. Research fields that she has explored so far include human-computer interaction, augmented reality, tangible user interface, embodied conversational agent, technology-enhanced collaborative learning, and assistive technology. Her work is published in premier human-computer interaction and learning science conferences such as CHI, ISMAR, IDC, IVA, and AIED, with two best paper nomination awards.

Zhen received her PhD degree from the Graphics and Interaction Group at the University of Cambridge in 2015 and was a postdoctoral fellow of the Human-Computer Interaction Institute and Language Technology Institute at Carnegie Mellon University before joining the University of Rochester.

Research Overview

Zhen Bai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Rochester. Her research focuses on creating embodied and intelligent interfaces that transcend learning, communication, and wellbeing for people with diverse abilities and backgrounds. Her main research fields include human-computer interaction, augmented reality, tangible user interface, embodied conversational agent, technology-enhanced collaborative learning, and assistive technology. Her work is published in premier human-computer interaction and learning science conferences such as CHI, ISMAR, IDC, IVA, and AIED.Zhen received her Ph.D. degree from the Graphics & Interaction Group at Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge in 2015 and was a postdoctoral fellow of the Human-Computer Interaction Institute and Language Technology Institute at Carnegie Mellon University before joining the University of Rochester.

Research Interests

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Augmented Reality
• Tangible User Interfaces
• Embodied Conversational Agent
• Technology-Enhanced Learning
• Computer-Supported Collaborative Work
• Assistive Technology
• Machine Learning for HCI

Selected Publications

• [In review] Sinha, T., Bai, Z., Cassell, J. A Novel Multimodal Approach for Studying the Dynamics of Curiosity in Group Learning. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies.
• Paranjape, B., Bin, Y., Bai, Z., Hammer, J., and Cassell, J. (2018). Towards Automatic Generation of Peer-Targeted Science Talk in a Curiosity-Evoking Virtual Agent. [to appear] In Proc. 18th ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents.
• Ali, S., To, A., Bai, Z., Holmes, J., Fath, E., Kaufman, G., Hammer, J. (2018). Transition from Goal Driven Game Design to Game Driven Goal Delineation in Tandem Transformational Game Design. [to appear] In Proc. Meaningful Play 2018
• Paranjape, B., Bai, Z., and Cassell, J. (2018) Predicting the Temporal and Social Dynamics of Curiosity in Small Group Learning. 19th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education.
• Sinha, T., Bai, Z., Cassell, J. (2017) A New Theoretical Framework for Curiosity for Learning in Social Contexts. 12th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning. [Accept rate: 25.3%] (Best paper award nominee)
• Sinha, T., Bai, Z., Cassell, J. (2017) Curious Minds Wonder Alike: Studying Multimodal Behavioral Dynamics to Design Social Scaffolding of Curiosity. 12th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning. [Accept rate: 25.3%]
• Bai, Z., Blackwell, A.F., Coulouris, G. (2015). Exploring Expressive Augmented Reality: The FingAR Puppet System for Social Pretend Play. In Proc. ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Seoul, Republic of Korea, April 18-23, 2015, pages 1035-1044. [Accept rate: ~23%]
• Bai, Z., Blackwell, A.F., Coulouris, G. (2015). Exploring Expressive Augmented Reality: The FingAR Puppet System for Social Pretend Play. In Proc. ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Seoul, Republic of Korea, April 18-23, 2015, pages 1035-1044. [Accept rate: ~23%]
• Bai, Z., Blackwell, A.F., Coulouris, G. (2015). Using Augmented Reality to Elicit Pretend Play for Children with Autism. (2015) IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, vol.21, no.5, pages 598-610. (By invitation)
• Bai, Z., Blackwell, A.F., Coulouris, G. (2013). Through the Looking Glass: Pretend Play for Children with Autism. In Proc. 12th International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), 1-4 October 2013, Adelaide, Australia, pages 49-58. [Accept rate: ~3%](Best paper award nominee)
• Bai, Z., Blackwell, A.F. (2013). See-through Window vs. Magic Mirror: A Comparison in Supporting Visual-Motor Tasks. In Proc. 12th International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), pages 239-240.
• Bai, Z., Blackwell, A.F., Coulouris, G. (2013). Can We Augment Reality with “Mental Images” to Elicit Pretend Play? A Usability Study. In Proc. ACM CHI Extended Abstract 2013, 27 April -2 May 2013, Paris, France, pages 1-6.
• Bai, Z., Blackwell, A.F., Coulouris, G. (2012). Making Pretense Visible and Graspable: An Augmented Reality Approach to Promote Pretend Play. In Proc. 11th IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR), 5-8 November 2012, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, pages 267-268. [Accept rate: ~28%]
• Bai, Z. (2012). Augmenting Imagination for Children with Autism. In Proc. 11th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children (IDC), 12-15 June 2012, Bremen, Germany, pages 327-330. [Accept rate: ~31%]
• Bai, Z., Blackwell, A.F. (2012). Analytic Review of Usability Evaluation in ISMAR. Interacting with Computers, 24(6), pages 450-460.