Laboratory of Informatics of Grenoble Engineering Human-Computer Interaction Research Group

Engineering Human-Computer Interaction
Research Group

Postdoctoral position: Internet of Interactive Things (IoIT)

What you need:
• A PhD in Computer Networking (Networks) or a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• A desire to work on a multidisciplinary research area
• Excellent programming skills and good software development practices

Context and subject: Interacting with the Internet of Things
IoT corresponds to a vision of a world in which billions of devices (Things) with embedded intelligence, communication means, and sensing and actuating capabilities will connect to the Internet. The major missing element in the current view of the Internet of Things is the lack of interaction techniques with Things. In most cases, Things are connected to the Internet and the users indirectly interact with Things via a graphical user interface that enables the users to assess/send data from/to Things.

In the context of Internet of Interactive Things (IoIT), the work will focus on new disruptive means for directly interacting with Things (Humans to Things) and getting information from the physical world (Things to Humans). In this way, interactive Things can create a pervasive environment around users and define the interface with the physical world. For making Things interactive, some research avenues include:
- Direct interaction with Things: Humans-to-Things
Radio signals are all around users of computers, e.g. through WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, etc. These signals are sensitive to disruptions, for instance through objects or people moving around them or during their own displacement. The material of the manipulated physical object also affects the signals differently. One research avenue seeks to use wireless network signals (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, 802.15.4) as a means for gesture-based Humans-to-Things interaction.
Using radio or visible light, an interaction device can enable a user to directly point to a given place or a physical object. Since pointing is an unavoidable elementary interaction task, such a device can lead to the design of innovative direct interaction techniques with Things.
Moreover direct interaction with Things could be based on BANs (Body Area Networks) for contexts in which a BAN can become a part of the global network thus enabling the interaction with surrounding devices through BAN interfaces. BAN devices would extend the operation of the infrastructure network close to the user body and take advantage of existing control devices for Humans-to-Things interaction.
- Direct interaction with Things: Things-to-Humans
The work will focus on innovative ways for providing the user with Personalized Information Focus: the use of public displays (a large display includes information for a given person), the use of dedicated speakers for targeted personal information (only a given person in a given place hears the sound based on acoustic concentration), and the use of lasers or LEDs for visual indications (visual dynamic information guide directing users to a destination place).

Salary and Benefits:
• Gross salary (depending on the number of years of experience after the PhD):
˜[2379, 2958] euros per month
• Contract for 18 months that can be extended to 24 months

Hosting institutions:
• Université Grenoble Alpes
• Two teams of the Grenoble Informatics Laboratory (LIG): Drakkar and EHCI teams
• Persyval-lab: Pervasive systems and algorithms at the convergence of physical and digital worlds

Supervisors:
• Céline COUTRIX, Celine.Coutrix@imag.fr (EHCI team)
• Andrzej DUDA, Andrzej.Duda@imag.fr (Drakkar team)
• Laurence NIGAY, Laurence.Nigay@imag.fr
 (EHCI team)

To apply, please send the following documents to Andrzej.Duda@imag.fr:
• Email subject MUST start with "[PhD IoT]"
• Letter of application: why you are interested in this multidisciplinary research position and what you would like to work on
• Curriculum vitae
• References or letters of recommendation
• Applicant's scientific report or paper written in English
• Any other document showing that you are an outstanding candidate

Contact

Laurence Nigay, Céline Coutrix