Dr Alma Cantu

Bio

Alma received a PhD in Information Visualisation from IMT Atlantique, Brest, France, in 2018. She was funded by Thales DMS France to investigate the use of immersive tools to analyse signal intelligence radar signals. After her PhD, she worked on Human Factors (2028-2019) to evaluate the perceptive advantage of shape-changing surfaces for touchscreen interaction in airliner cockpits at ISEA-Supaero and ENAC, Toulouse, France (engineering schools specialised in aeronautics and space). She then worked for Newcastle University (2019-2022) on the Mobilise-D project investigating visual solutions to explore mobility data.

Research Interest

Alma’s research interests are to improve the understanding of user perception to facilitate the acquisition of complex data. It includes investigating human perspectives processes in both on-screen or virtual environments (perception, motion parallax, ecologic design); improving the understanding of diverse user’s needs toward visualisation (patient involvement, participatory design); deepening the characterisation and representation of complex data (heterogeneous data, complex task); and evaluating the proposed outcomes (usability testing, quantitative evaluation).

Collaborations and Prospective Students

I am always happy to collaborate on my topics of interest, so please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss any of the subjects mentioned earlier.

Although I currently have no open PhD positions, I would be glad to explore funding opportunities if you have something in mind. If you are a self-funded applicant, you are welcome to reach out to me, or alternatively, you can have a look at the topics proposed by my colleagues here.

Publications

2024

Kirk, Cameron, et al. ‘Mobilise-D Insights to Estimate Real-World Walking Speed in Multiple Conditions with a Wearable Device’. Scientific Reports, vol. 14, no. 1, Jan. 2024, p. 1754. www.nature.com, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51766-5.

2023

Keogh, Alison, et al. ‘Mobilizing Patient and Public Involvement in the Development of Real-World Digital Technology Solutions: Tutorial’. Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 25, Oct. 2023, p. e44206. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.2196/44206.

Romijnders, Robbin, et al. ‘Ecological Validity of a Deep Learning Algorithm to Detect Gait Events from Real-Life Walking Bouts in Mobility-Limiting Diseases’. Frontiers in Neurology, vol. 14, Oct. 2023, p. 1247532. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1247532.

Kirk, Cameron, et al. Estimating Real-World Walking Speed from a Single Wearable Device: Analytical Pipeline, Results and Lessons Learnt from the Mobilise-D Technical Validation Study. 22 June 2023. In Review, https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2965670/v1.

Micó-Amigo, M. Encarna, et al. ‘Assessing Real-World Gait with Digital Technology? Validation, Insights and Recommendations from the Mobilise-D Consortium’. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 20, no. 1, June 2023, p. 78. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-023-01198-5.

Cantu, Alma, et al. ‘Parallel Assemblies Plot, a Visualization Tool to Explore Categorical and Quantitative Data: Application to Digital Mobility Outcomes’. 2023 IEEE 16th Pacific Visualization Symposium (PacificVis), IEEE, 2023, pp. 21–30. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1109/PacificVis56936.2023.00010.

2022

Gozzi, Zoe, et al. ‘Behavioral and Physiological Assessment of a Virtual Reality Version of the MATB-II Task’: Proceedings of the 17th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications, SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, 2022, pp. 77–87. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.5220/0010912100003124.

Google Scholar profile

Talks

Teaching

Alma is teaching the following modules in the School of Computing, Newcastle University:

Postgraduate modules:

• Data Visualization (CSC8626) | Lecturer and Module Leader
• Data Visualization (CSC8642) | Lecturer and Module Leader
• Project and Dissertation in Data Science (CSC8639) | Lecturer and Module Leader

Undergraduate module:

• [past enrolment] Data Visualization and Visual Analytics (CSC3833) | Lecturer

Administrative Role

Alma is also the Degree Programme Director of the following MSc:

• Data Science MSc
• Data Science and AI MSc
• Data Science with Visualization MSc

Former Positions

• Research Associate on the Mobilise-D project
  School of Computing, Newcastle University
• Research Associate on the AIRTIUS project
  Department of Aerospace Vehicles Design and Control, ISAE-Supearo
  Interactive Informatics Research Team, ENAC (Civil School of French Aviation)
• Research Associate / PhD Student
  HCI Team, Thales Airborne Systems
  LUSSI (Logic of uses, social sciences and Information) Department, IMT Atlantique