Professor  Duncan P Brumby

Professor Duncan Brumby is a globally recognized expert in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), dedicated to understanding how digital tools shape human behavior, productivity, and well-being. At University College London (UCL), he directed the MSc HCI program, educating the next generation of technology researchers and practitioners. As Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies (IJHCS), he oversees the publication of research that advances human-centered technology design.  

Duncan’s research addresses two of the most pressing challenges in technology today: managing the pervasive impacts of smartphone use and exploring the transformative potential of generative AI. Collaborations with organizations like Microsoft Research, the BBC, and EDF Energy have translated academic insights into practical solutions. Recognized with Best Paper Awards at CHI and CSCW, his contributions span over 100 publications and have been cited more than 3,400 times (h-index 31), underscoring his sustained influence on the field.  

A distinguished international speaker, Duncan is celebrated for engaging diverse audiences with clarity and insight. He has delivered over 80 keynotes and invited talks at leading institutions, including Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Microsoft, and Google. Whether addressing packed auditoriums, connecting with virtual audiences, or contributing to public discourse through outlets like the BBC and Times Radio, Duncan excels at making complex ideas accessible and actionable for students, professionals, and industry leaders alike.  

Duncan’s ACM involvement reflects his leadership and dedication to advancing HCI while addressing critical social issues at the intersection of technology and society. A long-standing contributor to ACM SIGCHI, he has served on program committees since 2012, including roles as Subcommittee Chair for CHI 2018 and 2019. During the pandemic, he organized the first virtual Doctoral Consortium at CHI 2020, fostering innovation and inclusivity for early-career researchers. His recent research reflects a strong commitment to social justice, including studies on how marginalized communities navigate barriers on social networking platforms to participate in climate activism, as well as investigations into the challenges faced by crowdworkers in the modern gig economy.

• Drowning in Email? Practical Tips from Research on How to Better Manage Your Inbox.
  We are all utterly overwhelmed by the volume of email that we receive every single day. I will talk about our research on how people manage digital communications over email and offer...
• Generative AI: Lessons from Dickens for the Information Age
  Generative AI is transforming how we work, learn, and create, offering significant opportunities while raising important ethical and practical challenges. In this timely lecture, Professor...
• History and Future of Human-Automation Interaction
  In this talk, I shall review the history of human-automation interaction research, assess its current status, and identify future directions. I will start by reviewing articles that were published...
• How Do Interruptions Affect Productivity?
  Work is frequently interrupted. What is known about how interruptions affect productivity? This important question has been studied using a variety of research methods, from controlled experiments...
• Managing Digital Distractions
  Our daily activities are constantly punctuated by interruptions and maintaining focus can be challenging. In this talk, I’ll discuss the results of our research aimed at understanding how...
• Media Multitasking in the New Digital Age
  On-demand video services, such as Netflix and Amazon Video, have become extremely popular. The advent of these video services has transformed how people access content, from the devices...
• Research Methods for HCI
  The talk will introduce quantitative and qualitative methods used in HCI research. I shall discuss how these research approaches are used to understand people and interactional contexts. Practical...
• The Smartphone Paradox: Essential Yet Distracting
  How often do you check your phone? If you’re like most people, it hasn’t been long. Smartphones, the defining innovation of the last two decades, have revolutionized how we...
• The Smartphone Paradox: Essential Yet Distracting
  How often do you check your phone? If you’re like most people, it hasn’t been long. Smartphones, the defining innovation of the last two decades, have revolutionized how we...