Information Retrieval for children
Information Retrieval Systems, IRS, including search and recommendation systems, are meant to minimize information overload by offering users resources that satisfy their information needs in a variety of contexts. Unfortunately, we found scarce academic literature and benchmark resources related to IRS, for which children are the major stakeholders. We take a comprehensive look at IRS design, development, evaluation, and deployment; one that simultaneously considers different perspectives that must coexist if the resulting IRS (and associated strategies) are to serve main stakeholders better and appeal to the research community. Therefore, we work towards the design of IRS for and with children and the definition of an open framework for assisting developers in producing and evaluating such services in non-formal contexts (e.g., schools, hospitals, and museums).
Gender-balance in Informatics
Understanding and participating in modern society necessitates understanding how technological tools operate, so coding illiteracy is a source of concern. Because of its significance, computer science education must overcome disparities to become inclusive and accessible, which is a well-known challenge in the gender balance domain. Gender roles and biases in the classroom may, in fact, influence students’ attitudes toward computer science. We use collaborative design to examine gender biases in the narratives of teachers, children, and parents. Simultaneously, we are creating tools to assist teachers in implementing a gender diversity-focused Informatics teaching method.
Accessibility
Designing technology with and for people with disabilities is essential for enhancing inclusion and accessibility. In this research area, we involve different target groups to understand their needs and to design, develop and evaluate hardware and software solutions. Recently, we have been concentrating on people with intellectual disabilities and having stakeholders such as educators, psychologists, and cultural mediators to work on the museum context, aiming to improve the user experience of our participants in the museum context. We have been developing solutions using multisensory experiences, augmented reality, and accessible applications.