Lead Researchers

Dr. Stuart Cunningham
Stuart is Reader in Audio and Affective Computing and was formerly Head of the Department of Creative Industries (2010-2014) at the University. His background is in computing and audio technologies. He holds a PhD in similarity-based audio compression from the University of Wales, having previously completed a BSc and MSc at the University of Paisley. His research interests cover a range of computing and creative hybrids, including: audio compression; affective technologies; sonic interaction; sound design; and the socio-economic impact of leading-edge technologies.
Stuart is a Fellow of the British Computer Society (BCS), Chartered IT Professional (CITP) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He currently serves on the committee of the BCS Computer Arts Society (CAS) specialist group. Stuart was also a member of the MPEG Music Notation Standards (MPEG-SMR) working group, which developed ISO/IEC 14496-23:2008.
Stuart is Reader in Audio and Affective Computing and was formerly Head of the Department of Creative Industries (2010-2014) at the University. His background is in computing and audio technologies. He holds a PhD in similarity-based audio compression from the University of Wales, having previously completed a BSc and MSc at the University of Paisley. His research interests cover a range of computing and creative hybrids, including: audio compression; affective technologies; sonic interaction; sound design; and the socio-economic impact of leading-edge technologies.
Stuart is a Fellow of the British Computer Society (BCS), Chartered IT Professional (CITP) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He currently serves on the committee of the BCS Computer Arts Society (CAS) specialist group. Stuart was also a member of the MPEG Music Notation Standards (MPEG-SMR) working group, which developed ISO/IEC 14496-23:2008.

Dr. Jonathan Weinel
Jon is a sonic artist and researcher and is a Visiting Research Fellow in Computing at the University. He holds a PhD in Music Technology, completed at Keele University. Jon's main expertise is in audio design and composition of psychedelic music and visual music. He creates sound for sonic arts, video games, audio-visual projects and carries out research broadly related to these areas.
Jon is a sonic artist and researcher and is a Visiting Research Fellow in Computing at the University. He holds a PhD in Music Technology, completed at Keele University. Jon's main expertise is in audio design and composition of psychedelic music and visual music. He creates sound for sonic arts, video games, audio-visual projects and carries out research broadly related to these areas.

Prof. Richard Picking
Rich is Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the University and is Head of the Creative and Applied Research for the Digital Society (CARDS) research centre. He researches into various aspects of interface accessibility and usability, with a particular emphasis on design for the elderly or disabled. He is a practising musician and has interests in assessing novel interfaces for sonic interaction.
Rich is a Fellow of the British Computer Society (BCS) and Chair of the BCS Health in Wales national committee.. Currently, he specializes in user interface design and evaluation, and was lead designer and technical manager for the FP6 EU-funded programme: “EASYLINE+: Low Cost Advanced White Goods for a Longer Independent Life of Elderly People”.
Rich is Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the University and is Head of the Creative and Applied Research for the Digital Society (CARDS) research centre. He researches into various aspects of interface accessibility and usability, with a particular emphasis on design for the elderly or disabled. He is a practising musician and has interests in assessing novel interfaces for sonic interaction.
Rich is a Fellow of the British Computer Society (BCS) and Chair of the BCS Health in Wales national committee.. Currently, he specializes in user interface design and evaluation, and was lead designer and technical manager for the FP6 EU-funded programme: “EASYLINE+: Low Cost Advanced White Goods for a Longer Independent Life of Elderly People”.
Students

Steven Davies
Steve is a Senior Lecturer in Television and Digital Media Broadcast at the University and is pursuing a MPhil/PhD award in the field of immersive imaging and multimedia experiences. Steve has an extensive background in the UK media industry, having worked in imaging and photography roles on a range of independent and mainstream television and film productions.
His research is primarily concerned with evaluating a range of 360 degree video production techniques and technologies and the way in which these can be consumed by, and achieve interaction with, an audience. A key element of his work is in identifying the most appropriate platforms and hardware to be used in achieving immersive and entertaining content.
Steve is a Senior Lecturer in Television and Digital Media Broadcast at the University and is pursuing a MPhil/PhD award in the field of immersive imaging and multimedia experiences. Steve has an extensive background in the UK media industry, having worked in imaging and photography roles on a range of independent and mainstream television and film productions.
His research is primarily concerned with evaluating a range of 360 degree video production techniques and technologies and the way in which these can be consumed by, and achieve interaction with, an audience. A key element of his work is in identifying the most appropriate platforms and hardware to be used in achieving immersive and entertaining content.

Steve Nicholls
Steve is a MPhil/PhD student, having graduated from Glyndwr University in 2009 with a BEng (Hons) in Sound/Broadcast Engineering and, in 2010, an MSc in Electrical and Electronic Systems with Digital Technologies. He has worked extensively as a musician and recording engineer, which has informed his current area of study. His research is about the use of collaborative artificial intelligence in music production software systems.
Steve is a MPhil/PhD student, having graduated from Glyndwr University in 2009 with a BEng (Hons) in Sound/Broadcast Engineering and, in 2010, an MSc in Electrical and Electronic Systems with Digital Technologies. He has worked extensively as a musician and recording engineer, which has informed his current area of study. His research is about the use of collaborative artificial intelligence in music production software systems.

Steffan Owens
Steffan is a MPhil/PhD student within the group. He has been a professional musician, recording artist and peripatetic music tutor for his working life. In 2012, he returned to education, attending Glyndwr University to study Music Technology, attaining a first class BSc (Hons) degree. During this time, and based on his project work, he presented a submitted papers and posters to the Audio Engineering Society (AES), winning a prize for his submission. Steffan's research examines human characteristics of good musical timekeeping and analyses different pedagogical techniques and philosophies that can be deployed to improve an individual’s timekeeping in music.
Steffan is a MPhil/PhD student within the group. He has been a professional musician, recording artist and peripatetic music tutor for his working life. In 2012, he returned to education, attending Glyndwr University to study Music Technology, attaining a first class BSc (Hons) degree. During this time, and based on his project work, he presented a submitted papers and posters to the Audio Engineering Society (AES), winning a prize for his submission. Steffan's research examines human characteristics of good musical timekeeping and analyses different pedagogical techniques and philosophies that can be deployed to improve an individual’s timekeeping in music.

Shaun Roberts
Shaun is a PhD student, having graduated with the award of BSc (Hons) Computer Network Management and Security in 2012 from Glyndwr University. Shaun is currently researching context-aware computing systems and their diverse range of applications. His work is focused on designing and evaluating a range of frameworks and ontologies that can be transferred across affective computing and media scenarios. This has a particular focus upon enhancing automatic recommendation systems that work with large databases of television and film content.
Shaun is a PhD student, having graduated with the award of BSc (Hons) Computer Network Management and Security in 2012 from Glyndwr University. Shaun is currently researching context-aware computing systems and their diverse range of applications. His work is focused on designing and evaluating a range of frameworks and ontologies that can be transferred across affective computing and media scenarios. This has a particular focus upon enhancing automatic recommendation systems that work with large databases of television and film content.

David Schwarz
David is a Lecturer in Technical Theatre, Creative Media and Music Technology at Coleg Cambria. He holds a first-class BSc (Hons) in Music Technology (2013) and PGCE from Glyndwr University, where he was also awarded the Blodwen and Christmas Evans Memorial Prize for undergraduate achievement. He has previously worked for the BBC and a number of independent media production companies, and as a musician and audio engineer since 2005. David is currently pursuing a MPhil/PhD in the area of theatrical lighting system design. The focus of David's research is to determine the relationship between the creative intent of a practitioner and the technical aspects of production. Following this he is developing a system to allow more intuitive/contextual control of lighting systems and analysing the impact that this has on the creative process.
David is a Lecturer in Technical Theatre, Creative Media and Music Technology at Coleg Cambria. He holds a first-class BSc (Hons) in Music Technology (2013) and PGCE from Glyndwr University, where he was also awarded the Blodwen and Christmas Evans Memorial Prize for undergraduate achievement. He has previously worked for the BBC and a number of independent media production companies, and as a musician and audio engineer since 2005. David is currently pursuing a MPhil/PhD in the area of theatrical lighting system design. The focus of David's research is to determine the relationship between the creative intent of a practitioner and the technical aspects of production. Following this he is developing a system to allow more intuitive/contextual control of lighting systems and analysing the impact that this has on the creative process.
associates

Hans-Peter Gasselseder
Hans-Peter is a Research Assistant at Aalborg University, Denmark. His research focuses on examining empirically the role of dynamic music in the emergence of immersive experiences within narrative-driven video games. While also covering issues of ludonarrative dissonance and emotional regulation, his work investigates contextual references of structural and expressive features in music according to the demands set by gameplay as a function of player characteristics.
Hans-Peter is a Research Assistant at Aalborg University, Denmark. His research focuses on examining empirically the role of dynamic music in the emergence of immersive experiences within narrative-driven video games. While also covering issues of ludonarrative dissonance and emotional regulation, his work investigates contextual references of structural and expressive features in music according to the demands set by gameplay as a function of player characteristics.

Prof. Mark Grimshaw
Mark is a Visiting Professor from Aalborg University (Denmark), where he is the Obel Professor of Music. With a background in music and music technology, his main research focus today is on sound in computer games and similar virtual environments. In particular he is interested in the relationship between player and sound and how sound may be designed and created to fashion new forms of relationship. Mark has numerous publications and works with prestigious publishers such as Oxford University Press for whom recently edited The Oxford Handbook of Virtuality.
Mark is a Visiting Professor from Aalborg University (Denmark), where he is the Obel Professor of Music. With a background in music and music technology, his main research focus today is on sound in computer games and similar virtual environments. In particular he is interested in the relationship between player and sound and how sound may be designed and created to fashion new forms of relationship. Mark has numerous publications and works with prestigious publishers such as Oxford University Press for whom recently edited The Oxford Handbook of Virtuality.

Prof. Debbie Roberts
Debbie is Foundation of Nursing Studies Chair in Practice Learning at Bangor University, passionate about improving the link between theory and practice in nursing and improving quality of care for patients. She is especially interested in utilising interaction and emotional technology to enhance nurse education and provide affordable, quality healthcare.
Debbie is on the editorial board of Nurse Education in Practice and is a reviewer for Nurse Education in Practice, Nurse Education Today and Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Debbie is Foundation of Nursing Studies Chair in Practice Learning at Bangor University, passionate about improving the link between theory and practice in nursing and improving quality of care for patients. She is especially interested in utilising interaction and emotional technology to enhance nurse education and provide affordable, quality healthcare.
Debbie is on the editorial board of Nurse Education in Practice and is a reviewer for Nurse Education in Practice, Nurse Education Today and Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Lyall Williams
Lyall Williams was awarded a BA (Hons) degree in Music Technology and Philosophy in 2005, and MRes Music Technology in 2006, from Keele University. He has presented at conferences on a range of video game audio topics, both in the UK and internationally, including at Audio Mostly. Though no longer directly involved in academia, he still enjoys any excuse to talk about games.
Lyall Williams was awarded a BA (Hons) degree in Music Technology and Philosophy in 2005, and MRes Music Technology in 2006, from Keele University. He has presented at conferences on a range of video game audio topics, both in the UK and internationally, including at Audio Mostly. Though no longer directly involved in academia, he still enjoys any excuse to talk about games.

Dr. Mads Walther-Hansen
Mads is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Aalborg University (Denmark) in the Department of Communication and Psychology and holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen. Mads's research focuses on the relationship between the way sound engineers and music producers articulate recorded sound and the effect sound editing and recording techniques have on the listener's experience.
Mads is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Aalborg University (Denmark) in the Department of Communication and Psychology and holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen. Mads's research focuses on the relationship between the way sound engineers and music producers articulate recorded sound and the effect sound editing and recording techniques have on the listener's experience.
ALUMNI

Dr. Darryl Griffiths
Darryl completed his PhD in the group in 2017. His research is concerned with modelling human behaviours and emotional states to provide more meaningful interaction with technology. In particular, his work is focused upon improving automatic music play list generation by utilising biofeedback and environmental sensors in mobile music players and smart-phones. His PhD research developed original methods for emotionally classifying a wide range of music and integrated these with contextual and environmental factors.
Darryl completed his PhD in the group in 2017. His research is concerned with modelling human behaviours and emotional states to provide more meaningful interaction with technology. In particular, his work is focused upon improving automatic music play list generation by utilising biofeedback and environmental sensors in mobile music players and smart-phones. His PhD research developed original methods for emotionally classifying a wide range of music and integrated these with contextual and environmental factors.

Kanev Anton
Anton was a MSc student at Bauman Moscow State Technical University and Glyndwr University. His main interests lay in areas of computer graphics and text mining. As part of his undergraduate dissertation Anton described anamorphic transformations of bitmap images. During his MSc dissertation he investigated current problems of augmented reality and developed q mobile navigation system with unique functions. He also developed a flexible approach for ontology constructing using nature language processing.
Anton was a MSc student at Bauman Moscow State Technical University and Glyndwr University. His main interests lay in areas of computer graphics and text mining. As part of his undergraduate dissertation Anton described anamorphic transformations of bitmap images. During his MSc dissertation he investigated current problems of augmented reality and developed q mobile navigation system with unique functions. He also developed a flexible approach for ontology constructing using nature language processing.

Tamila Bakhtishaieva
Tamila was a MSc student, researching how sounds are perceived within busy clinical environments in hospitals, such as Accident and Emergency (A&E), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Medical Admissions Unit (MAU). Her research is particularly focused on being able to prepare clinical practitioners, such as student nurses, to better prepare for the complex audio environments found in these scenarios. Tamila completed her MSc in Computer Science in 2014.
Tamila was a MSc student, researching how sounds are perceived within busy clinical environments in hospitals, such as Accident and Emergency (A&E), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Medical Admissions Unit (MAU). Her research is particularly focused on being able to prepare clinical practitioners, such as student nurses, to better prepare for the complex audio environments found in these scenarios. Tamila completed her MSc in Computer Science in 2014.

Lukman Ottun
Lukman was a MSc student, investigating how information from social media feeds (such as Twitter) can be filtered and represented using audio and sonic information. His work is particularly focused upon providing social media information to users in scenarios where visual media is difficult or impossible to access, such as when driving a vehicle or riding a bicycle. Lukman completed his MSc in Computer Science in 2014.
Lukman was a MSc student, investigating how information from social media feeds (such as Twitter) can be filtered and represented using audio and sonic information. His work is particularly focused upon providing social media information to users in scenarios where visual media is difficult or impossible to access, such as when driving a vehicle or riding a bicycle. Lukman completed his MSc in Computer Science in 2014.

Diana Suprun
Diana was a degree student of Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow (2009-2015). Between 2015 and 2016, she studied for a Master's degree in Computer Science at Glyndwr University, UK. Her background is in computing and Interactive Visualization technologies. She is currently pursuing a PhD in image matching algorithms at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow (2015-present). During the process of studding at BMSTU, Diana was awarded with a State Diploma of the RF President (2014, 2015), Potanin scholarship (2014) for leadership potential and team playing, PLC Gazprom scholarship for trainee-ship results. Diana has fourteen scientific works including three monographies in Russian and foreign editions. Her research interests cover Cloud Computing, Database systems and Interactive Visualization technologies.
Diana was a degree student of Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow (2009-2015). Between 2015 and 2016, she studied for a Master's degree in Computer Science at Glyndwr University, UK. Her background is in computing and Interactive Visualization technologies. She is currently pursuing a PhD in image matching algorithms at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow (2015-present). During the process of studding at BMSTU, Diana was awarded with a State Diploma of the RF President (2014, 2015), Potanin scholarship (2014) for leadership potential and team playing, PLC Gazprom scholarship for trainee-ship results. Diana has fourteen scientific works including three monographies in Russian and foreign editions. Her research interests cover Cloud Computing, Database systems and Interactive Visualization technologies.