Prof Darelle van Greunen

Research Biography

I am a Professor and the Research Group Leader of the eHealth Group in the School of ICT at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. I also advised as a Senior Researcher for SAP Research on User Experience and User Interface Design from 2006 to 2011. My background is multidisciplinary, combining computer science, information systems, African languages, education, media studies and psychology. I specialize in human computer interaction and user experience, reflected in an extensive publication record as well as my industry project involvement. I have published extensively and am invited as a regular keynote speaker at international and national conferences, as well as to participate in radio interviews on the topic of usability and user experience. Over the past two years, I was asked to act as opening keynote speaker at four international conferences in different international locations. I hosted a talk slot on user experience at a local radio station and was asked on several occasions to act as studio guest on three national radio stations to explain to the public the importance of usability and user experience when using technology. I was also invited to give a public lecture to the Finnish mobile industry in Helsinki during October 2010 and to present a workshop on user experience in the developing world to researchers from Aalto University (Finland) and Nokia Research.

My research is regarded as trend setting in the international user experience and human computer interaction community as it focuses on the opportunities and challenges provided by the use of technology in the developing world and more specifically on new and innovative technologies. I am regarded by my international peers as one of the leading researchers on the user experience of different users in different cultural contexts. My vast knowledge and expertise in this space has resulted in me being appointed as one of five global user experience champions within SAP Research Globally. I was the user experience and user interface design expert for emerging economies within SAP Research and also advised the research office in India on user interface design for mobile devices.

The number of international and multidisciplinary projects that I am involved in, is testimony to this fact. I currently have the following collaboration activities with Government, national and international research institutions:

- Cape Peninsula University of Technology

- Polytechnic Namibia

- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

- Makerere University, Uganda

- Emmanuel Haven, Port Elizabeth

- FamHealth, Port Elizabeth

- Medical Research Council

- Western Cape Provincial Government (E-Government Directorate)

- Eastern Cape Provincial Government (Departments of Health, Transport and Public Works)

- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality

- Letsema Circle, East London

- Aalto University, Helsinki