Research Interests:
Dr. Chignell's interests lie in in the general area of human factors approaches to information technology. He is particularly interested in the areas of dynamic hypertext, mobile computing, and customized information access. The general approach adopted is to look for opportunities to add intelligence or value through appropriate (re-)design of the user interface. In dynamic hypertext, for instance, this involves adding a simple point and click hypertext interface to the search and query formulation task, along with complementary algorithms for calculating queries based on user selections. For mobile computing, it involves exploration of new forms of interface for information access using a small screen, or an auditory interface. For customized information access it involves application of user profiles to develop customized information presentations for individuals, or for groups of users. In the context of digital libraries, this work is concerned with developing effective non-traditional methods for accessing large digital information collections, using dynamic hypertext and customized information retrieval in a variety of desktop, handheld, and mobile computing settings.

Research Projects:
Dr. Chignell is a co-investigator, along with monica schraefel (Dept. of Computer Science), Gale Moore (Knowledge Media Design Institute), Ian Spence (Dept. of Psychology), and Barry Wellman (Centre for Urban and Community Studies), of the Collaborative Environment Project, part of the Bell University Labs (which is funded by Bell Canada). He and his students are investigating the usability of auditory interfaces (via cell phones) to collaborative tools such as email and shared bulletin boards. They are also investigating the usability of email for document/file management within a work group setting.

Professional Affiliations:
Dr. Chignell is the Associate Director of Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI) at the University of Toronto. He is also one of the editors of KMDI's Working Paper Series.

Teaching:
He is the instructor of MIE240 - Human Centered Systems Design and MIE1404 - Human Factors in Information Technology in the department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

Publications:
Dr. Chignell has authored/co-authored a number of books and book chapters, and numerous journal/conference articles. For a complete list, see his CV below or the Interactive Media Lab's publications listing.

CV:
A somewhat dated version of his CV can be found here.