Somang Nam

hello there

I'm a seasoned Human Factors researcher with Computer Science background. I sit at the junction between Human-Computer Interaction, Applied Artificial Intelligence, and Software Engineering.

I have a strong record of building complex systems, including web development, data engineering, and machine learning applications. In addition, I have experience in building games and simulations (2D, 3D, and XR).

As a researcher, I'm interested in Inclusive Design to bring benefits to everyone in the community, and for the marginalized community. I design and conduct mixed methods user research, perform professional-level statistical analytics (quant) and qualitative analysis, and share the findings at various levels of audiences from novice to expert.

this was made using skeleton.css

Nov., 2022

I was born in Bielefeld, Western Germany (yes, it exists). I then moved to Seoul, South Korea, where I was a Boy Scout. I know how to swim, play tennis, piano, violin, and Go. I got a South Korean government certificate in computer use when I was 12.

I used to be a competitive Dota player (2nd place in regional 2011), and used to enjoy playing Counter-Strike, League of Legends, etc. I also have an old classic Sega genesis, N64 console, and a Nintendo Switch. My recent favourite is the game called Alba (that I can play with my daughter)

I like pasta, pizza, hamburger (Rudy's is the best), poutine, Samgyeopsal (삼겹살). As of editing this page, I've read 'Ametora' by Mark W. David and I finished reading 'Modulor' by Le Corbusier. I used to follow almost all the latest Monocle issues.

I also like things with good kan-ji (感じ) for example:

Bauhaus-design 'art things'
Daily stuff like chairs, cups, clothes, sneakers, wristwatches, heavy-duty gears
all kinds of music, but my favorites are french-touch, bossa-nova, jazz, hip-hop, etc.

Toronto, Fall, 2023, Canada

Toronto, Fall, 2021, Canada

Toronto, Fall, 2016, Canada

Toronto, Fall, 2014, Canada

Toronto, Fall, 2022, Canada

Toronto, Fall, 2019, Canada

Toronto, Fall, 2015, Canada

I have much more stuff written somewhere else, check out my FULL Curriculum Vitae HERE

education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	Human Factors, Industrial Engineering	University of Toronto	2016 - 2021
Master of Science (M.Sc.)	Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science	Toronto Metropolitan University	2013 - 2016
Honours Bachelor of Science (H.B.Sc.)	Computer Science, Mathematics and Ethnomusicology	Trinity College, University of Toronto	2007 - 2013

experience

In reverse chronological order

Connected Minds & LAPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow	York University
Course Director/Lecturer	York University
Postdoctoral Research Fellow	Toronto Metropolitan University
Data Engineer Manager	Scotiabank
Senior Product Engineer Tech Lead	Scotiabank
Lecturer/Adjunct Professor	Toronto Metropolitan University
Technical Officer - 3	National Research Council of Canada

publications

Nam, S., Karam, M., Christelis, C., Bhargav, H., Fels, D. (2023). Assessing subjective workload for live captioners. Applied Ergonomics, 113, 104094. (SCI/SSCI, IF=3.2) paper

Seaborn, K., Rogers, K., Nam, S., Kojima, M. (2023). "Kawaii Game Vocalics: A Preliminary Model." In Extended Abstracts of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play Companion Extended Abstracts. paper

Nam, S., Fels, D., & Chignell, M. (2023). "Developing a Closed Captioning quality assessment system using a multi-label classifier with active learning from Deaf and Hard of Hearing viewers." Applied Intelligence. (SCI, IF=5.3) paper

Seaborn, K., Nam, S., Keckeis, J., Itagaki, T. (2023). "Can Voice Assistants Sound Cute? Towards a Model of Kawaii Vocalics." In Extended Abstracts of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. paper

Spitschan, M., Mead, J., Roos, C., Lowis, C., Griffiths, B., Mucur, P., Herf, M., Nam, S., & Veitch, J. A. (2022). "luox: novel validated open-access and open-source web platform for calculating and sharing physiologically relevant quantities for light and lighting." Wellcome Open Res, 6, 69. doi:10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16595.3 paper fosdem

Nam, S., Fels, D., and Chignell, M. (2021). "Toward a Subjective Assessment System for Closed Captioning Quality", SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal, 130(3), 35-44. (ESCI) paper

Nam, S., Fels, D., and Chignell, M. (2020). "Modeling Closed Captioning Subjective Quality Assessment by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Viewers." in IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems - Systems, Mans, Cybernetics. (SCIE, acceptance rate=10%, IF=5.14) paper

Nam, S. and Fels, D. (2020). "Towards Designing a Subjective Assessment System for The Quality of Closed Captioning Using Artificial Intelligence", NAB Show - Broadcast Engineering and IT Conference. link

Nam, S. and Fels, D. (2019). “Simulation of Subjective Closed Captioning Quality Assessment Using Prediction Models.” International Journal of Semantic Computing (ESCI), 13(01), 45-65. paper

Nam, S. and Fels, D. (2016). “Design and Evaluation of an Authoring Tool and Notation System for Vibrotactile Composition.” HCII 2016, Toronto, Canada. link

education

experience

publications

work archive

User Research

Fun stuff