Carolina Fuentes
Computer Science | HCI | HRI | ICT4D
I am a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the School of Computer Science and Informatics at Cardiff University, working on Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Robot Interaction as part of the Human-Centred Computing Research Group and member of the new Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Human-Machine Systems (IROHMS).
Previously, I was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Horizon Digital Economy Research Institute, University of Nottingham, I worked in the area of Human-Robot Interaction and Human-Computer Interaction. Also, I was part of the EPSRC project "Autonomous Internet of Things", at the Mixed Reality Lab, University of Nottingham.
My research focuses on human-robot collaboration, human-computer interaction, Internet of Things (IoT), and a socially responsible approach for designing technology. I am particularly interested in understanding the impact of technology through a user-centred research focus in different contexts, i.e healthcare, domestic environments, factory domains, and the global south.
My background is in Computer Science, I received my Ph.D. at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, working at the HumaLab research group, during that time I explored:
- The impact of novel interfaces to support the self-report of emotions of informal caregivers/unpaid carers.
How digital skills affect preferences of interfaces: Tangibles, Mobiles, and Ambient.
Technology and social network use in complex contexts, i.e mothers of children with chronic illness, informal caregiver/unpaid carers of dependent elderlies, and isolated caregivers.
Research
overview of ongoing and completed projects
Human Robot Interaction
RoboClean Project
The Human Robot Collaboration for Allergen-Aware Factory Cleaning project investigates the potential of human-robot collaboration, integrated with IoT sensors for cleaning and allergen detection on a factory floor.
More details here.
Internet of Things
Autonomous Internet of Things: Home Essentials Study
The A-IoT is an EPSRC project that looks at the interaction between humans and autonomous agents. The data produced by the Internet of Things (IoT) is likely to keep growing, beyond human capacity to turn it into meaningful information that can be acted on. More details about the project here.
As part of this project, we investigated why is so difficult for a system to predict when essential items will run out. More details in our CHI paper “Tracking the Consumption of Home Essentials”.
TechUp
Retraining 100 women into technology careers.
The TechUP programme retrains in technology 100 women from the Midlands and North of England, particularly from underrepresented communities, and gives them the opportunity to interview with a company for an internship/apprenticeship/job. More details here
Informal Caregivers Wellbeing
Technology for Informal Caregivers
More details soon.
Socially responsible technology
Domestic scenarios, privacy, and impact of technology in mental health
More details soon.
Publications
Publications
This section is under construction. You can find my publications in my google scholar profile. If you can't find the pdf please do send me an email and I will send you an author's copy.
Teaching
Teaching Experience
2019 - Teaching Assistant, Mixed Reality Technology. University of Nottingham.
2016 - Lecturer, Engineer and Software requirements. Andrés Bello University, Santiago, Chile.
2014 - Instructor, Advanced Programming, Python. Finis Terrae University, Santiago, Chile
2012-2014 - Adjunct Instructor, Introduction to Programming, Python and Java. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Blog & News
Public engagement
Outreach
Encourage and support more diversity in Computer Science
Future activities
2019
- Summer School 2019
- Ada Lovelace Day 2019
Computer Science Discovery Day
May 2019
Ada Lovelace Day 2018
October 2018
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
2017