Dr Thomas Methven
Dr Thomas Methven is an Assistant Professor at the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University. With a strong academic background, including a PhD in Computer Science from Heriot-Watt University, Dr Methven has established himself in the fields ofHuman-ComputerInteraction (HCI), Information Retrieval, andUser Experience(UX) design. His research explores how users interact withtechnology, focusing on improving user confidence, enhancing decision-making processes, and understanding cognitive styles.
Dr Methven has contributed significantly to academic research, authoring over 29 publications, including conference papers,technicalreports, and journal articles. His work highlights how people organise ideas, interact with concept maps, and perceive information presented by automated systems. One of his notable research interests is in improving user confidence in automated concept maps, which he explored in the context ofdata-drivenexplanations. He has also investigated the factors affecting user confidence in explanation systems, contributing to discussions on the importance of explainability in artificial intelligence.
Dr Methven has played an important role in advancing education in the field of game development. He is the lead for the BSc (Hons)Games Developmentand Production programme at Heriot-Watt University, a course designed to equip students with the comprehensive skills needed for the gaming industry. This programme was developed in consultation with major industry players such asUnityand Build A Rocket Boy.
Dr Methven has been recognised through accolades such as Honourable Mentions at the ACM CHI 2017 and ACM DIS 2017 conferences for his research papers and notes. Furthermore, he won a Scottish BAFTA in 2021 for his role in developing the game SOLAS 128.
