Vinh Thanh Nguyen
Research Assistant
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: BA NYU Abu Dhabi; MSc Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; MSc LUT University
Research Areas: Air Quality; Human-Computer Interaction; Ubiquitous Computing
Vince Nguyen is currently a Research Assistant at the Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES) and previously a CITIES Research Fellow. Holding a BA in Interactive Media and an MSc in Software Engineering for sustainability. Nguyen has an interdisciplinary background in user-centered design and software systems. His expertise spans full-stack web and iOS development, the Internet of Things, data analysis, and data visualization.
Nguyen's research focuses on promoting awareness of contemporary urban and environmental challenges, with an emphasis on encouraging behavior change toward healthier and more sustainable lifestyles. He is particularly interested in leveraging consumer technology to advance digital air quality research. His previous work includes designing air quality user interfaces across various platforms, such as interactive installations, web dashboards, and smartwatches, as well as utilizing Apple Watch health data to evaluate the impact of indoor air purification on cardiovascular and respiratory health at NYU Abu Dhabi.
Current Research
Vince is currently designing and developing an Apple Watch application that can be interfaced with a DIY portable air quality monitor. He hopes to leverage the rising popularity of the Apple Watch as a personal healthcare device to explore its possibilities and examine its effectiveness in promoting air pollution awareness and behavior change among users. By transforming raw measurements into exploratory visualizations, the Apple Watch interface is designed to encourage users to take actions to lower their exposure to air pollution through a knowledge-is-empowering approach.