Dr Wenge Xu

Senior Lecturer in Human-Computer Interaction

Email:: Wenge.Xu@bcu.ac.uk

Dr Wenge Xu is a senior lecturer in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and an active researcher within the HCI Research Centre. Wenge specialises in HCI, focusing on Extended (Virtual, Augmented, Mixed) Reality and accessibility. He is researching to (1) make VR accessible for all, (2) use AR to support everyday life, and (3) design inclusive autonomous vehicles for disabled people through VR simulation.

He has published around 50 International journals and conference papers. Many of these publications are published in top-tier HCI conferences like ACM CHI; top-tier XR conferences like IEEE VR and IEEE ISMAR; top-ranked journals like IEEE TVCG, IJHCI, Springer VR, JMIR serious games and Games for Health. In addition, He is an Associate Chair for leading conferences like ACM CHI, ACM CHI PLAY, and IEEE ISMAR and an editor for journals like IEEE Transactions on Games, Springer Discover Computing, and Frontiers in Virtual Reality. He has reviewed over 100 full papers. You can find the updated list of publications on his Google Scholar profile.

Wenge earned his PhD in Computer Science in 2021 with “Motion-based Interaction for Head-Mounted Displays” at the University of Liverpool. His PhD studies were supported by a Postgraduate Research Scholarship by Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (RDF 15-02-12). He is an award-winning academic and researcher. His awards include IEEE VR honorable mentions for best paper awards (2020, 2024), IEEE Transactions on Games honorable mentions, and ACM CHI PLAY Student Game Design Competition Finalist. He has won a research grant from the Royal Society (£69.5k) on Inclusive External Human-Machine Interface for Automated Vehicles-d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pedestrian Interaction.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Postgraduate Supervision

Publications

Selected recent publications. For a more updated list, visit Wenge's Google Scholar page.

Journal

Z. Guo, H. Wang, H. Deng, W. Xu, N. Baghaei, C.-H. Lo, and H.N. Liang. Breaking the Isolation: Exploring the Impact of Passthrough in Shared Spaces on Player Performance and Experience in VR Exergames. IEEE TVCG. (2024). DOI: 10.1109/TVCG.2024.3372114
T. Wan, R. Shi, W. Xu, Y. Li, K. Atkinson, L. Yu, H.N. Liang. Hands-free Multi-Type Character Text Entry in Virtual Reality. Springer Virtual Reality. (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10055-023-00902-z
W. Xu, H.N. Liang, K. Yu, S. Wen, N. Baghaei, H. Tu. Acceptance of Virtual Reality Exergames Among Chinese Older Adults. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction (2023). DOI: 10.1080/10447318.2022.2098559
W. Xu, K. Yu, X. Meng, D. Monteiro, D Kao, H.N. Liang. Exploring the Effect of the Size and Feedback of Non-Player Character Spectators in Virtual Reality Exergames. Frontier in Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1079132
Wenge Xu, Hai-Ning Liang, Nilufar Baghaei, Xiaoyue Ma, Kangyou Yu, Xuanru Meng, Shaoyue Wen. Effects of an Immersive Virtual Reality Exergame on University Students’ Anxiety, Depression, and Perceived Stress: Pilot Feasibility and Usability Study. JMIR serious games. (2021). DOI: 10.2196/29330
W. Xu, H.N. Liang, N. Baghaei, W.B. Bing, and Y. Yue. Health Benefits of Digital Videogames for the Ageing Population: A Systematic Review. Games for Health. (2020). DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2019.0130
W. Xu, H.N. Liang, Z. Zhang, and N. Baghaei. Studying the Effect of Display Type and Viewing Perspective on User Experience in Virtual Reality Exergames. Games for Health. (2020). DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2019.0102
W. Xu, H.N. Liang, Y. Zhao, T. Zhang, D. Yu, D. Monteiro, and Y. Yue. RingText: Dwell-free and hands-free Text Entry for Mobile Head-Mounted Displays using Head Motions. IEEE TVCG. (2019). DOI: 10.1109/TVCG.2019.2898736.

Conference

Z. Guo, H. Deng, H. Wang, A. Tan, W. Xu, H.N. Liang. Exploring the impact of passthrough on vr exergaming in public environments: A field study. IEEE ISMAR’24. DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR62088.2024.00037
Z. Guo, W. Xu, H. Wang, T. Wan, N. Baghaei, C.H. Lo, H.N. Liang. Enhancement of co-located shared vr experiences: Representing non-hmd observers on both hmd and 2d screens. IEEE ISMAR’24. DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR62088.2024.00038
Z. Guo, W. Xu, J. Zhang, H. Wang, C.-H. Lo, H.N. Liang. Who's Watching Me?: Exploring the Impact of Audience Familiarity on Player Performance, Experience, and Exertion in Virtual Reality Exergames. IEEE ISMAR’23. DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR59233.2023.00077
W. Xu, X. Meng, K. Yu, S. Sarcar, H.N. Liang. Evaluation Text Selection in Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Displays. IEEE ISMAR’22. DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR55827.2022.00027
D. Monteiro, H.N. Liang, X. Wang, W. Xu, H. Tu. Design and Development of a Low-cost Device for Weight and Center of Gravity Simulation in Virtual Reality. ACM ICMI’21. DOI: 10.1145/3462244.3479907
W. Xu, H.N. Liang, K. Yu, N. Baghaei. Effect of Gameplay Uncertainty, Display Type, and Age on Virtual Reality Exergames. ACM CHI’21.. DOI: 10.1145/3411764.3445801
X. Lu, D. Yu, H.N. Liang, W. Xu, Y. Chen, X. Li, K. Hasan. Exploration of Hands-free Text Entry Techniques for Virtual Reality. IEEE ISMAR’20. DOI: 10.1109/ISMAR50242.2020.00061
W. Xu, H.N. Liang, Y. Chen, X. Li, and K. Yu. Exploring Visual Techniques for Boundary Awareness During Interaction in Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Displays. IEEE VR’20. Nominated for the best conference paper award (top5%). DOI: 10.1109/VR46266.2020.00039