Jack Burnett
Academic Background
MSc Information Technology, University of the West of England (2021-2023)
PGCE Secondary Computer Science, University of the West of England (2020-2021)
BSc (Hons) Computer Science, University of Bath (2017-2020)
Background:
Before the PhD, I taught computer science across secondary, further, and higher education. I primarily lectured on user experience and data visualisation, drawing on knowledge gained during my BSc and MSc. I developed a strong interest in Interactive AI through my lecturing and reflection on how AI may affect society. There are many societal issues that interactive AI may be able to solve, or at least improve, that are yet to be researched, and I want to be a part of the teams that help develop these solutions; the selection of game controllers as an area of research was to provide a bounded scope that can have a direct, observable impact on individuals in their daily lives.
Research:
My current research within the Bristol Interaction Group (BIG) focuses on democratising accessible hardware design through co-design, parametric modelling, and human-in-the-loop AI. I am particularly interested in enabling disabled gamers to design and customise their own controllers. My broader research interests include inclusive design, responsible AI, technology governance, and the societal implications of emerging technologies; these interests are reflected in opinion papers in these areas.