Dr Ali Asadipour

Ali's research interests lie in the field of Intelligent Computer Human Interactions (ICHI). His vision is to research and develop intelligent and interactive technologies. In particular, he is currently focussing on intelligent and realistic multisensory interactions in cross-reality environments (XR), particularly in domains such as Imitation Learning and Multimodal Visualisations. This not only helps the next generation of humans, but could also help educate machines to autonomously respond to interactions and to transfer know-how with the help of the next generation of intelligent interaction technologies.

Ali has over a decade of academic and industrial experience in design, development and deployment of sensory systems, and computer informatics. He holds two senior management positions with a major focus on information and communication systems in Iran. Ali is co-founder and CTO of a spin-off from University of Warwick, holds patents and licences for three innovations, and has previous experience managing small and medium sized teams. In addition, he has actively collaborated in planning and running professional workshops to highlight the potentials of digital transformation for academic and industrial partners (e.g. SMEs). In 2019, his contribution as digital lead in co-designing a novel multidisciplinary training programme led to accreditation of a new profession at the NHS.

• VFS – Virtual Flavour System: Research and education for a step-change in business innovation (2019/20), Multimodal Visualisation (Retail, Healthcare and Wellbeing), Funded by BBSRC, and RAEng
  
• PleuSense – Integrated sensing platform for early characterisation of pleural effusion (2018/20), Healthcare Technologies (Biomedical Devices for Cancer Diagnosis), Consultant, Funded by Newton-Katip Celebi Funded by the British Council
  
• mPatch – molecular hydrogel-based detection engine for mHealth (2017/19), Healthcare Technologies (Wearables for Self-monitoring), Co-I, Funded by HVM Catapult and NanoFlex Ltd.
  
• PSi – Programme for Simulation Innovation, Theme 7: Visualisation and Virtual Experience (2012/17), Multimodal Visualisation, Consultant, Automotive, Funded by EPSRC-JLR
  
• DISCONEX – The Discursive Construction of Academic Excellence. Classifying SSH Researchers Through Text-Processing Practices (2013/18), Social Sciences (Social Informatics), Funded by ERC
  
• WMQT – West Midland Query Tool (2014), Healthcare Technologies (Health Informatics), Lead Software Engineer, Funded by WMAHSN
  
• PTS – Palpation Training System (2011/15), Healthcare Technologies (Devices for Training, Assessment and Diagnosis), PhD Funded by University of Warwick

Ali is building an international reputation in pioneering research involving the application of intelligent, immersive and interactive technologies. This is essential in modelling complex somatosensory interactions between human and machines to deliver authentic and natural experiences. Providing inexpensive smart solutions, efficient and safe communication strategies and customised interfaces are key to provide interoperability between systems and to exchange real-time information for instant decision-making, with immediate high-quality feedback, whenever and wherever. In particular, he is currently focussing on realistic and intelligent multisensory interactions in immersive environments, particularly in less explored domains such as feel (including haptics – both kinematic and cutaneous), smell and taste. 

Ali's work on a “virtual flavour” interface has received strategic seed fund and led to a GCRF project and a patent in collaboration with our UK and South African partners. The early prototype was presented at the British Science Festival 2019 and drew substantial attention in the local news media. The innovative wearable device which is proposed in our most recent project in collaboration with our industrial partner NanoFlex was endorsed by the STFC. His contribution as a technology consultant in an EPSRC-JLR funded project on the use of multisensory displays to accurately simulate reality led to two prestigious publications. In 2018, this project was showcased by Ali and his colleagues at the Science for a Successful Nation event and was selected as the top choice by EPSRC. In 2019, his contribution as digital lead in co-designing a novel multidisciplinary training programme led to accreditation of a new profession at the NHS . His innovative training interface was shortlisted by Innovate UK as one of the top three choices for Enhanced medical training and care challenge in Virtual and Augmented Reality Innovation Contest in 2015.

Publications:

• Asadipour, A., Debattista, K., Patel, V. & Chalmers, A. (2020).  A technology-aided multi-modal training approach to assist abdominal palpation training and its assessment in medical education, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies 137: 102394.
  
• Doukakis, E., Debattista, K., Bashford-Rogers, T., Dhokia, A., Asadipour, A., Chalmers, A. & Harvey, C. (2019). Audio-visual-olfactory resource allocation for tri-modal virtual environments, IEEE transactions on visualization and computer graphics 25(5): 1865–1875.
  
• Asadipour, A., Debattista, K. & Chalmers, A. (2017). Visuohaptic augmented feedback for enhancing motor skills acquisition, The Visual Computer 33(4): 401–411.
  
• Dhokia, A., Doukakis, E., Asadipour, A., Harvey, C., Bashford-Rogers, T., Debattista, K., Waterfield, B. & Chalmers, A. (2016).  A calibrated olfactory display for high fidelity virtual environments, Proceedings of the conference on Computer Graphics & Visual Computing, CGVC ’16, Eurographics Association, pp. 113–120.
  
• Asadipour, A., Debattista, K. & Chalmers, A. (2015). A game-based training approach to enhance human hand motor learning and control abilities, 2015 7th International Conference on Games and Virtual Worlds for Serious Applications (VS-Games), IEEE, pp. 1–6.
  
• Asadipour, A., 2015. A technology-aided multi-modal training approach to assist abdominal palpation training and its assessment in medical education. Ph.D. thesis, University of Warwick.
  
• Choi Keung, S. N. L., Khan, O., Asadipour, A. & Dereli, H. (2015).  A query tool enabling clinicians and researchers to explore patient cohorts, Enabling health informatics applications, Vol. 213, IOS Press, pp. 57–60.
  

Keynotes/Workshops:

• 2019, The British Science Festival, Warwick University, Coventry, UK
  
• 2019, IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (IEEE VR), Osaka, Japan
  
• 2019, Learning Technologies, Learning Lounge Talks, The Excel, London
  
• 2018, Gesture & Technology Workshop, Warwick University, Coventry, UK
  
• 2016, Computer Graphics and Visual Computing (ACM CGVC), Bournemouth University, UK
  
• 2015, Games and Virtual Worlds for Serious Applications (IEEE VS-GAMES), Skövde University, Sweden
  
• 2018, EPSRC Science for a Successful Nation, Royal Society, London
  
• 2017, KTN Connected and Autonomous Vehicles 3 Briefing (CAV3 R&D), London
  
• 2015, VR and AR Innovation Contest (Shortlisted for 3rd Challenge), London, UK
  
• 2014, West Midlands Health Informatics Network (WIN) Conference, Coventry, UK

UK

• University of Warwick
• University of Oxford
• University of Coventry
• University of the West of England
• University of Bournemouth
• Birmingham City University

International

• Brno University, Czech Republic
• University of Würzburg, Germany
• University of Skövde, Sweden 
• University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• INESC Technology and Science, Portugal
• University of Cape Town, South Africa
• Middle East Technical University, Turkey
• China Three Gorges University, China
• Sharif University of Technology, Iran
  

Industry Partners

• McLaren Automotive Ltd
• Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC 
• Unilever
• Carmien Tea Ltd (South Africa)
• New Food Innovation Ltd (University of Nottingham SME)
• NanoFlex Ltd (STFC Supported SME)
• West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) 
• George Elliot Hospital NHS Trust
• University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
• University Hospital Birmingham (UHB)