Hashini Senaratne
I am a final year PhD candidate at Human-Centred Computing Group, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Australia. My PhD research recognizes, captures and objectively evaluates temporal phases of anxiety using multimodal-multisensor analytics to support the design and development of AI-incorporated clinically-effective mobile technologies anxiety assessment and treatment. My multidisciplinary thesis is supervised by Prof Sharon Oviatt (Human-centered AI), Dr Kirsten Ellis (Inclusive Technology Design), A/Prof Glenn Melvin (Psychology) and Dr Levin Kuhlmann (Data Science). Please see our recent publication at ICMI 2021 conference, where we also published a novel dataset covering diverse multimodal data metrics from patients and healthy subject samples.
I am also involved in research related to designing STEM educational toolkits. Under this research theme, I have designed and developed a modularized and extensible robotic platform with a visual programming language for children (named SiFEB), while undertaking the bachelor of engineering (Honors) degree at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Further, recently, I designed and developed an electronics toolkit for people with cognitive (named TronicBoards), motor and vision impairments to transfer the benefits of STEM in an accessible format, and this project is a National Science Week grant (Australia) funded initiation. Exploration of how AI can enhance the user experience within these toolkits is underway. These two products have been recognized with multiple awards for their research excellence and impact on society. SiFEB robotic platform has won a Gold award at the National Best Quality ICT Awards (Sri Lanka), a Gold award at the Sahasak Nimavum national exhibition (Sri Lanka), nominated for Asia Pacific ICT Awards and funded with a small grant by Monash University Generator Program. Regarding the TronicBoard educational electronic toolkit, I recently received a Dean's Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion from the Faculty of IT, Monash University. Please see the demo videos of SiFEB and TronicBoards to learn more about these projects.
Prior to commencing my PhD at Monash University, I have been also employed as a junior lecturer at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (2017-2018). Before that, I had industrial experience as a senior software (2016) engineer and a software engineer (2015) at a Silicon-Valley based Sri Lankan company, which is currently named Sysco Labs.
My broader research interests focus on discovering impactful, multimodal, and human-centered AI technologies for multiple domains, including health and education. From my standpoint, this can be achieved through (1) domain exploration with multidisciplinary stakeholders to develop a deep understanding of prerequisites for novel AI technologies and foresee unintended consequences, (2) collection of objective data to analyze and design of AI technologies to accommodate identified prerequisites while mitigating unintended consequences, and (3) refinement of AI technologies based on application data, including user-experience.
Research Specialisation: Human-centered computing; Artificial intelligence; Data analytics (machine learning, time-series modeling); Statistical testing; Physiological and behavioral signal processing (ECG, GSR, speech, gait, posture); Multimodal analytics; Ubiquitous sensing; Domain exploration and user-experience evaluation methods (interviews, guided exploration); Design and development (software, electronics, 3D models); Multidisciplinary collaborations; Assistive robotics and electronics toolkits.
