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Mixed Reality Lab (MRL) had a successful year at this year's ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI).  CHI is the leading international conference for human-computer interaction (HCI) research. It attracts over 2500 delegates each year. CHI 2012 will be the 30th CHI conference and will be held in Austin, Texas between 5th and 10th May.

This year, we have received the following CHI awards …

Best paper award—full paper (given to top 1% of all submissions)

Uncomfortable Interactions

Steve Benford, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Chris Greenhalgh, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Gabriella Giannachi, The University of Exeter
Brendan Walker, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Joe Marshall, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Tom Rodden, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

Discomfort can enhance the entertainment, enlightenment and sociality of cultural experiences. We explore how four kinds of discomfort—visceral, cultural, control and intimacy—can be ethically embedded into experiences.

Best paper award—Long Case ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ (given to top 1% of all submissions)

Methodological Insights on Doing HCI Research in Rwanda

Samantha Merritt, Indiana University
Abigail Durrant, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Stuart Reeves, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
David S Kirk, Newcastle University

Case study of research on memorialisation in post-genocide Rwanda, focussing on methodological challenges of working in a "transnational" context. Findings develop methodological insights with relevance to wider HCI audiences.

Best paper award nomination—full paper (given to the top 5% of all submissions)

Envisioning Ubiquitous Computing

Stuart Reeves, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

Examines technological visions of the future and the role of 'envisioning' within ubicomp and HCI communities. Critiques these envisionings and recommends changes in ways we read, interpret and use them.

Also, Steve Benford has been elected a member of the CHI Academy.

Beyond these awards, the MRL also had the following full papers accepted:

CamBlend: An Object Focused Collaboration Tool —Paper

James Norris, Mixed Reality Lab, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Holger Schnädelbach, Mixed Reality Lab, Computer Science, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Guoping Qiu , The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

New panoramic focus plus context video collaboration system designed to facilitate the interaction with and around objects. Exploratory study showed several successful new uses and existing problems in fractured spaces.

Digging in the Crates: An Ethnographic ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ of DJs' Work—Paper

Ahmed Yousif Ahmed, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Steve Benford, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Andy Crabtree, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

Presents an analysis of how DJs collect, prepare, perform and promote music. Raises implications for technologies to support DJs and for studies of music consumption and sharing in other settings.

Laying the Table for HCI: Uncovering Ecologies of Domestic Food Consumption - Paper

Annika Hupfeld, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Tom Rodden, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ of family eating practices in the home and the artefacts and spaces involved. Provides a set of sensitizing concepts for interaction designers and technologists seeking to augment domestic eating.

“Act Natural”: Instructions, Compliance and Accountability in Ambulatory Experiences—Paper

Peter Tolmie, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Steve Benford, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Martin Flintham, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Patrick Brundell, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ Matt Adams - Blast Theory
Nicholas Tandavantij, Blast Theory
Ju Row Far, Blast Theory
Gabriella Giannachi, The University of Exeter

This paper presents an ethnographic study of instruction compliance in an ambulatory experience. Four levels of compliance are uncovered of broad relevance to instruction design.

A Hybrid Mass Participation Approach to Mobile Software Trials—Paper

Alistair Morrison, University of Glasgow
Donald McMillan, University of Glasgow
Stuart Reeves, The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
Scott Sherwood, University of Glasgow
Matthew Chalmers, University of Glasgow

Describes methodology for combining simultaneous 'app store' style mobile software trial with local deployment. Allows for explanation of observed behaviour, verification to prevent misleading findings and more solid ethical practice.

The Lab is also presenting an ACM Transactrons on CHI paper at the conference, as well as an alt,chi paper. We are also taking part in SIGS and workshops.