Prof Thea Blackler


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PhD (Queensland University of Technology)

Associate Professor Thea Blackler received her PhD in 2006.

Research interests:

  • the intuitive usability of products
  • designing for older people

Associate Professor Alethea Blackler is the Associate Director of the QUT Design Lab. She is one of the world leaders in her principle area of research, intuitive interaction. She pioneered the first empirical work in the field, has led an ARC Discovery project on Facilitating Intuitive Interaction for Older People, and is currently editing a book a on the topic, building upon her substantial publication record in this area. She is also working in the area of older people and technology and design for dementia (including an EU Horizon 2020 grant project),  and has had two ARC grants as well as various commercial research projects. She is a highly experienced HDR supervisor, has published more than 60 peer reviewed papers, been invited to give presentations internationally and is the recipient of several awards.

Projects (Chief investigator)

Projects

Additional information

Teaching/Achievements

  • Design History, Theory and Criticism
  • Applied Design Research
  • Ergonomics and Usability

Experience

  • Undergraduate Teaching
  • HDR Supervision
  • Research
  • Publications
  • Editing – book, conference proceedings and journal issue
  • Reviewer – high impact journals and conferences
  • Session chair – international conferences
  • Teaching and research leadership

Awards

Type
International Collaboration
Reference year
2016
Details
I have been collaborating with researchers in Germany, the US, and elsewhere in developing the research on intuitive interaction worldwide. Collaboration began via a workshop in Berlin in November 2006, which was followed by the joint production of a journal paper (Blackler and Hurtienne, 2007) which compares and contrasts the Australian and German research. This led to a clearer understanding of our respective positions for both us and for other researchers. Since then QUT researchers have attended two more workshops on intuitive interaction in Europe and I edited a special issue of a top journal on the topic in 2015. The latest project is a chapter book which I have edited and which Taylor and Francis will publish in July 2018. This is part of my campaign, as the pioneer researcher in the area of intuitive use, to remain at the cutting edge and position myself and QUT as the leader in this field.
Type
Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
Reference year
2016
Details
I put in a proposal for a special issue of the journal on Intuitive Interaction. This was accepted and I (and my colleague as second editor), organised and managed peer review, undertook the editing, and also authoring the editorial. The special issue was published in May 2015.
Type
Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
Reference year
2015
Details
QUT hosted this conference here in Brisbane. I was an active member of the organising committee and served as Long Papers Chair, organising reviewing, selection and editing for all 275 long papers submitted. As long paper chair for this conference I was the second editor for the proceedings: Popovic, Vesna, Blackler, Alethea L., Luh, Ding-Bang, Nimkulrat, Nithikul, Kraal, Ben, & Yukari, Nagai (Eds.) (2015) Proceedings of the IASDR Conference 2015: Interplay, 2-5 November. International Association of Societies of Design Research, Brisbane , QLD.
Type
Editor/Contributor of a Prestigious Work of Reference
Reference year
2015
Details
As long paper chair for this conference I was the second editor for the proceedings: Popovic, Vesna, Blackler, Alethea L., Luh, Ding-Bang, Nimkulrat, Nithikul, Kraal, Ben, & Yukari, Nagai (Eds.) (2015) Proceedings of the IASDR Conference 2015: Interplay, 2¿5 November. International Association of Societies of Design Research, Brisbane , QLD.

Publications

Research Projects

Title
Monitoring intuitive expertise in the context of airport security screening
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
LP140100221
Start year
2015
Keywords
Intuitive Expertise; Airport Security; Automated Monitoring
Title
Facilitating Intuitive Interaction with Complex Devices for Older Users
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
DP0877964
Start year
2008
Keywords
Design; Design Innovation; Intuitive Interaction; Usability; Intutive Use

Staff Supervision - Doctorate

Staff Supervision - Masters