i3 Lab
i3Lab is the University of Newcastle's Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research centre, dedicated to advancing technology that puts people first. We work across artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), immersive interfaces, and decision-support systems — translating cutting-edge research into practical, real-world solutions.
We partner with industry and academia to investigate how people experience, adopt, and are affected by emerging technologies — then use that evidence to design systems that genuinely serve them. Our work spans healthcare, financial services, education, defence, and beyond, with a track record of research that changes how organisations build and deploy technology.
"The question isn't whether AI will transform how we live and work — it's whether we'll design that transformation around people, or expect people to design themselves around it. That's the work of HCI."
Research focus
- We study what happens when people meet emerging technologies — and use that evidence to design systems that actually serve and empower them.
- Human-centred research and evaluation Empirical investigation of how people interact with technology — usability, cognition, trust, and adoption.
- UX and service design for emerging tech — Designing experiences for AI, XR, and complex digital systems that people can understand, use, and rely on.
- Behavioural data and interaction analytics — Qualitative and quantitative methods to understand user behaviour at scale and turn it into design evidence.
- Immersive and intelligent systems — Designing and evaluating XR environments, AI-driven interfaces, and intelligent decision-support tools.
Current projects
Developing interactive 3D navigation for NSW's $835M hospital development which lets hospital staff and first responders familiarise themselves to complex clinical environments before construction is complete.
Investigating how AI-generated teaching delivery affects student engagement, learning outcomes, and sense of connection across large university cohorts.
Developing an integrative design framework and practical checklist for the development of mobile apps that cater to the needs of older users.
Adaptive VR clinical training with real-time feedback for healthcare professionals — a research collaboration with Vantari VR evaluating how immersive simulation improves performance and reduces clinical errors.
Combining AI-driven assessment with immersive VR therapy to reimagine how people access mental health support. AI conducts the initial screening, then seamlessly connects individuals with a psychologist — reducing wait times, lowering barriers to entry, and extending reach to underserved communities
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.