Seminar • Human-Computer Interaction • Empowering Online Grassroots Creative Communities through Live Media

Please note: This seminar will take place in DC 1304 and virtually over Zoom.

Zhicong Lu, Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong

The proliferation of video-sharing and livestreaming platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch has catalyzed the growth of online creative communities, promoting cultural expression and preservation.

In this talk, I will present my research on these vibrant online creative communities, uncovering the innovative ways in which grassroots content creators captivate audiences, safeguard intangible cultural heritage, and reshape cultural production through livestreaming and short videos. I will highlight the complex dynamics, creative labor, and challenges faced by content creators. I will also showcase the design and implementation of interactive tools and systems to empower them, such as StreamSketch, which fosters multi-modal interactions between creative livestreamers and their audiences. The insights derived from understanding and supporting these online creative communities offer a roadmap for the future design of immersive media, extending beyond video-sharing platforms to encompass mixed reality (XR) and the metaverse.

Bio: Dr. Zhicong Lu is an Assistant Professor at the City University of Hong Kong, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), social computing, and Computer-Mediated Communication. By employing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research, design methods, and interactive system development, Dr. Lu’s work centers on understanding and addressing user needs in diverse contexts in online creative communities.

Dr. Lu has published extensively in premier HCI and social computing conferences, earning a Best Paper Award at CHI 2019 and a Best Paper Honorable Mention at CHI 2021. His achievements include the Rising Star Award from the International Chinese Association of Computer Human Interaction and the Young Scholar Award from the Tencent-CCF Rhino-Bird Focused Research Program. In addition to academia, Dr. Lu serves as Chief Scientist at a start-up dedicated to improving knowledge sharing and community engagement through AI.

To attend this seminar in person, please go to DC 1304. You can also attend virtually using Zoom at https://uwaterloo.zoom.us/j/95450554961.

For those attending virtually: The passcode will be provided by email on Friday before the seminar as well as on the morning of the seminar.