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Dr Don Samitha Elvitigala
Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr Don Samitha Elvitigala

Engineering
Computer Science and Engineering

Dr. Don Samitha Elvitigala recently completed his Ph.D. in human-computer interaction from Augmented Human Lab at Auckland Bioengineering Institute of the University of Auckland. During his Ph.D., he investigated novel wearable foot interfaces that can implicitly understand the physical and mental behaviours of humans. His has been published in premier peer-reviewed HCI conferences and journals, such as CHI, MobileHCI, UbiComp, ToCHI. Some of his publications were given honourable mention award in MobileHCI 2021 and the best student paper award in PETRA 2021, respectively. Also, the concept of his PhD dissertation was runner-up for the best presentation at the doctoral colloquium of UbiComp 2018.In UNSW, he works with Professor Aaron Quigley, focusing on developing novel  Wearable Discrete Computing Interfaces. His research interests include Human-Computer Interaction, Discreet Computing, Ubiquitous Computing, and Assistive Augmentation.
E-mail
s.elvitigala@unsw.edu.au
Location
Computer Science & Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Room 301-45, Level 3, Building K17 UNSW SYDNEY 2052
  • Book Chapters | 2021
    Muthukumarana S; Elvitigala DS; Wu Q; Pai YS; Nanayakkara S, 2021, 'Jammify: Interactive Multi-sensory System for Digital Art Jamming', in Ardito C; Lanzilotti R; Malizia A; Petrie H; Piccinno A; Desolda G; Inkpen K (ed.), Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2021, SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING AG, pp. 23 - 41, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85607-6_2
  • Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'TickleFoot: Design, Development and Evaluation of a Novel Foot-Tickling Mechanism That Can Evoke Laughter', ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTER-HUMAN INTERACTION, 29, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3490496
    Journal articles | 2020
    Elvitigala DS; Matthies DJC; Nanayakkara S, 2020, 'StressFoot: Uncovering the Potential of the Foot for Acute Stress Sensing in Sitting Posture', SENSORS, 20, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s20102882
  • Conference Posters | 2022
    Elvitigala DS; Somarathna R; Yan Y; Mohammadi G; Quigley A, 2022, 'Towards using Involuntary Body Gestures for Measuring the User Engagement in VR Gaming', USA, presented at ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST 2022), USA, 29 October 2022
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Elvitigala DS; Matthies DJC; Weerasinghe C; Nanayakkara S, 2021, 'GymSoles++: Combining Google Glass with Smart Insoles to Improve Body Posture when Performing Squats', in Proceedings of the 14th PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments Conference, ACM, presented at PETRA '21: The 14th PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments Conference, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3453892.3453898
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Elvitigala DS; Scholl PM; Suriyaarachchi H; Dissanayake V; Nanayakkara S, 2021, 'StressShoe: A DIY Toolkit for just-in-time Personalised Stress Interventions for Office Workers Performing Sedentary Tasks', in PROCEEDINGS OF 23RD ACM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MOBILE HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION (MOBILEHCI 2021): MOBILE APART, MOBILE TOGETHER, ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, ELECTR NETWORK, presented at 23rd ACM International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction (MobileHCI) - Mobile Apart, Mobile Together, ELECTR NETWORK, 27 September 2021 - 01 October 2021, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3447526.3472023
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Matthies DJC; Elvitigala DS; Fu A; Yin D; Nanayakkara S, 2021, 'mobiLLD: Exploring the Detection of Leg Length Discrepancy and Altering Gait with Mobile Smart Insoles', in Proceedings of the 14th PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments Conference, ACM, presented at PETRA '21: The 14th PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments Conference, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3453892.3453896
    Conference Papers | 2021
    2021, 'Augmented Foot: A Comprehensive Survey of Augmented Foot Interfaces', in Augmented Humans Conference 2021, ACM, presented at AHs '21: Augmented Humans International Conference 2021, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3458709.3458958
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Elvitigala DS; Matthies D; Weerasinghe C; Shi Y; Nanayakkara S, 2020, 'GymSoles++', in Proceedings of the Augmented Humans International Conference, ACM, presented at AHs '20: Augmented Humans International Conference, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3384657.3385331
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Muthukumarana S; Elvitigala DS; Cortes JPF; Matthies DJC; Nanayakkara S, 2020, 'Touch me Gently: Recreating the Perception of Touch using a Shape-Memory Alloy Matrix', in PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2020 CHI CONFERENCE ON HUMAN FACTORS IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS (CHI'20), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, ELECTR NETWORK, presented at CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), ELECTR NETWORK, 25 April 2020 - 30 April 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3313831.3376491
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Dissanayake V; Elvitigala DS; Zhang H; Weerasinghe C; Nanayakkara S, 2019, 'CompRate: Power Efficient Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability Monitoring on Smart Wearables', in Spencer SN (ed.), 25TH ACM SYMPOSIUM ON VIRTUAL REALITY SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY (VRST 2019), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, AUSTRALIA, Western Sydney Univ, Sydney, presented at 25th ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, AUSTRALIA, Western Sydney Univ, Sydney, 12 November 2019 - 15 November 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3359996.3364239
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Elvitigala DS; Matthies DJC; David L; Weerasinghe C; Nanayakkara S, 2019, 'GymSoles', in Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, ACM, presented at CHI '19: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3290605.3300404
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Elvitigala DS; Matthies DJC; Dissanayaka V; Weerasinghe C; Nanayakkara S, 2019, '2bit-TactileHand: Evaluating Tactons for On-Body Vibrotactile Displays on the Hand and Wrist', in PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10TH AUGMENTED HUMAN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019 (AH2019), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, FRANCE, Reims, presented at 10th Augmented Human International Conference (AH), FRANCE, Reims, 11 March 2019 - 12 March 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3311823.3311832
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Matthies DJC; Elvitigala DS; Muthukumarana S; Huber J; Nanayakkara S, 2019, 'CapMat: A Smart Foot Mat for User Authentication', in PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10TH AUGMENTED HUMAN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019 (AH2019), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, FRANCE, Reims, presented at 10th Augmented Human International Conference (AH), FRANCE, Reims, 11 March 2019 - 12 March 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3311823.3311874
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Muthukumarana S; Elvitigala DS; Cortes JPF; Matthies DJC; Nanayakkara S, 2019, 'PhantomTouch: Creating an Extended Reality by the Illusion of Touch using a Shape-Memory Alloy Matrix', in SA'19: SIGGRAPH ASIA 2019 XR, ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, AUSTRALIA, Brisbane, pp. 29 - 30, presented at 12th ACM SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia - Extended Reality (XR), AUSTRALIA, Brisbane, 17 November 2019 - 20 November 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3355355.3361877
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Muthukumarana S; Matthies DJC; Weerasinghe C; Elvitigala DS; Nanayakkara S, 2019, 'CricketCoach: Towards Creating a Better Awareness of Gripping Forces for Cricketers', in PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10TH AUGMENTED HUMAN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019 (AH2019), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, FRANCE, Reims, presented at 10th Augmented Human International Conference (AH), FRANCE, Reims, 11 March 2019 - 12 March 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3311823.3311833
    Conference Papers | 2018
    Petry B; Illandara T; Elvitigala DS; Nanayakkara S, 2018, 'Supporting Rhythm Activities of Deaf Children using Music-Sensory-Substitution Systems', in PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2018 CHI CONFERENCE ON HUMAN FACTORS IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS (CHI 2018), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, CANADA, Montreal, presented at CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), CANADA, Montreal, 21 April 2018 - 26 April 2018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3173574.3174060
    Conference Papers | 2018
    2018, 'Doodle Daydream', in Proceedings of the Symposium on Spatial User Interaction, ACM, presented at SUI '18: Symposium on Spatial User Interaction, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3267782.3274681
    Conference Papers | 2018
    2018, 'Exploring the Potential of the Foot to Infer on User Information', in PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2018 ACM INTERNATIONAL JOINT CONFERENCE ON PERVASIVE AND UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2018 ACM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON WEARABLE COMPUTERS (UBICOMP/ISWC'18 ADJUNCT), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, SINGAPORE, Google, Singapore, pp. 1805 - 1808, presented at ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing / ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers (UbiComp/ISWC), SINGAPORE, Google, Singapore, 08 October 2018 - 12 October 2018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3267305.3278604
    Conference Papers | 2018
    2018, 'Uncovering the Potential of the Foot as a Source of User Information', in PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2018 ACM INTERNATIONAL JOINT CONFERENCE ON PERVASIVE AND UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2018 ACM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON WEARABLE COMPUTERS (UBICOMP/ISWC'18 ADJUNCT), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, SINGAPORE, Google, Singapore, pp. 541 - 546, presented at ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing / ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers (UbiComp/ISWC), SINGAPORE, Google, Singapore, 08 October 2018 - 12 October 2018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3267305.3267313
    Conference Papers | 2017
    2017, 'GrabAmps', in Proceedings of the 8th Augmented Human International Conference, ACM, presented at AH '17: 8th Augmented Human International Conference, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3041164.3041199
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Elvitigala DS; Wessolek D; Achenbach AV; Singhabahu C; Nanayakkara S, 2016, 'SwimSight: Supporting Deaf Users to Participate in Swimming Games', in Parker C (ed.), PROCEEDINGS OF THE 28TH AUSTRALIAN COMPUTER-HUMAN INTERACTION CONFERENCE (OZCHI 2016), ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY, AUSTRALIA, Univ Tasmania, Hobart, presented at 28th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference (OzCHI), AUSTRALIA, Univ Tasmania, Hobart, 29 November 2016 - 02 December 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3010915.3010969
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Withana A; Ransiri S; Kaluarachchi T; Singhabahu C; Shi Y; Elvitigala S; Nanayakkara S, 2016, 'waveSense', in Proceedings of the 29th Annual Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, ACM, presented at UIST '16: The 29th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2984751.2985734
    Conference Papers | 2016
    2016, 'Sensor platform for non-invasive ubiquitous current sensing', in 2016 10th International Conference on Sensing Technology (ICST), IEEE, presented at 2016 10th International Conference on Sensing Technology (ICST), 11 November 2016 - 13 November 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/icsenst.2016.7796322

Doctor of Philosphy Examination – Dean’s List 
My name has been placed on the Dean of Graduate Studies List (Dean’s List) of the University of Auckland, New Zealand in recognition of excellence achieved with my doctoral thesis. This award is made to only a few recipients each year from the large number of doctoral students completing their thesis.

Honorable Mention Award in MobileHCI 2021 (Sept-Oct 2021)
My paper “StressShoe: A DIY Toolkit for just-in-time Personalised Stress Interventions for Office Workers Performing Sedentary Tasks” won the honuorable mention award in MobileHCI 2021 (The ACM International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction).

Best Student Paper Award in PETRA 2021 (June-July 2021)
My paper “GymSoles++: Combining Google Glass withSmart Insoles to Improve Body Posture when Performing Squats.” won the best paper award in PETRA 2021 (PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments Conference)

New Zealand Best Design Awards 2020
GymSoles won New Zealand Best Design Awards Bronze medal in Student Digital Technology Category
Jammify won New Zealand Best Design Awards Silver medal in Student Digital Technology Category
Jammify won New Zealand Best Design Awards Bronze medal in Student Spatial Installations Category
Pride in Lights won New Zealand Best Design Awards Gold medal in Lighting Design Category
Pride in Lights won New Zealand Best Design Awards Gold medal in Exhibition and Temporary Structures Category
Touch me Gently Selected as a finalist in New Zealand Best Design Awards Student Digital Technology Category

Doctoral Colloquium Best Presentation Award Runner-Up (Oct 2018).
My PhD research project presentation won runner-up award at Doctoral Colloquium of UbiComp 2018 (The 2018 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing)

NUS Medical Grand Challenge (Aug 2017).
I was awarded third price in NUS Medical Grand challenge, an inter university students competiton for medical innovation organized by National University of Singapore.

 

Some of my recent publications are shown below:

Elvitigala, D.S., Boldu, R., Matthies D. J. C. and Nanayakkara, S.C., 2021 TickleFoot: Design, Development and Evaluation of a Novel Foot-tickling Mechanism that Can Evoke Laughter ACM Trans. Comput.-Hum. Interact (Accepted to be published in ToCHI Special issue on Digital Touch).

Elvitigala, D.S. ,  Scholl, P.M., Suriyaarachchi, H., Dissanayake, V.,  and Nanayakkara, S. 2021.StressShoe: A DIY Toolkit for just-in-time Personalised Stress Interventions for Office Workers Performing Sedentary Tasks. In MobileHCI’21: The ACM International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction, September 27-30,2021, Touluse, France. ACM. Honorable Mention Award!

Elvitigala, D.S. ,  Nanayakkara, S. and Huber, J. 2021.Augmented Foot: A Comprehensive Survey of Augmented Foot Interfaces.In Augmented Humans International Conference 2021 (AHs ’21), February22–24, 2021, Rovaniemi, Finland.ACM.

Elvitigala, D.S., Matthies, D.J.C., Weerasinghe, C., and Nanayakkara, S. 2021. GymSoles++: Combining Google Glass withSmart Insoles to Improve Body Posture when Performing Squats. In the 14th PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments Conference (PETRA 2021), June 29-July 2, 2021, Corfu, Greece. ACM. Best Student Paper Award!

Matthies, D.J.C, Elvitigala, D.S., Fu, A. Yin, D., and Nanayakkara, S.,  2021. mobiLLD: Exploring the Detection of Leg Length Discrepancy and Altering Gait with Mobile Smart Insoles. In The14th PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments Conference (PETRA 2021), June 29-July 2, 2021, Corfu, Greece.ACM.

Elvitigala, D.S.; Matthies, D.J.; Nanayakkara, S. StressFoot: Uncovering the Potential of the Foot for Acute Stress Sensing in Sitting Posture. Sensors 2020, 20, 2882.

Elvitigala, D.S., Matthies, D.J.C., David, L., Weerasinghe, C., & Nanayakkara, S. (2019). GymSoles: Improving Squats and Dead-Lifts by Visualizing the User’s Center of Pressure. In Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Proceedings (CHI 2019), May 4–9, 2019, Glasgow, Scotland Uk. ACM.

Read more about my research from my personal website and my google scholar account.