Daniel Welsh

Education

BSc Computing Science / Newcastle University - First Class (Hons)

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

September 2013 - May 2016

During my undergraduate degree, I learnt a diverse range of skills in computing science, including software design, web and app development, and human computer interaction. I used these skills to co-design a web application with older people. This system helped older people facing age related conditions share healthy recipes with other people who have similar dietary requirements. Furthermore, I learnt the fundamentals of software development practices, designing algorithms, system security, cryptography and fault tolerances.

MRes Digital Civics / Newcastle University - Distinction

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

May 2016 - August 2017

This Masters focussed on developing technologies to aid social care. I conducted research into how technology can support intergenerational interactions between young people and people with dementia. As part of this I developed a mobile application called Ticket to Talk. I learnt to work closely with families and people with dementia in a user-centred design process, as well as care homes, and local charities to evaluate and improve the technology. ESRC and Newcastle University ran a full press release on the project, as well the UK’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy including the app in their latest industrial campaign. In I developed skills in developing ubiquitous technologies, peer programming, and mobile development.

PhD Digital Civics / Newcastle University - Incomplete

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

September 2017 - May 2019

I studied at Open Lab, Newcastle University, the third largest biggest Human Computer Interaction research group. My PhD thesis centred on supporting mental wellbeing in later life, through the presentation and use of media. This was achieved through creating tech- nologies using a sensitive experience-centred design approach. To realise this, I created and deployed technologies such as: 3D printed devices, web applications, and mobile applications. I developed a strong skillset in development, research, design, independent learning, and project management. As part of my PhD I have worked with care homes in the UK and Ireland, became a member of the steering group of a local dementia charity, consulted with the Red Cross on their interaction design processes, collaborated across disciplines and institutions, and presented and published at prestigious conferences.

Experience

tretton37

Backend Software Engineer

August 2019 - Present, Stockholm, Sweden

I am currently working at tretton37 as a Backend Software Engineer. Here I consult on varied and challenging software projects across Stockholm. I work with Node and .Net to provide bespoke software solutions.

Qred Företagslån AB

Backend Software Engineer

May 2019 - August 2019, Stockholm, Sweden

At Qred I worked as a Backend Software Developer, helping to maintain and develop the company's core infrastructure. I help redesign and further develop Qred's back end to smoothly meet a rapidly growing customer base, using tools such as Java, C#, Kubernetes, and CI/CD.

Newcastle University / Northumbria University

Freelance Research Software Engineer

July 2016 - May 2019

During my PhD I have consulted and freelanced as a software engineer on a number of research projects. I have developed websites, created a web application for women’s rights activists, and helped create wearable technologies that help people in later life cope with death and grief. Between my undergraduate and master’s degree I also interned at Open Lab to develop a cross-platform mobile application, encouraging conversation between younger people and people with dementia. During this project, I lead the application design and development in a co-design process with younger carers of people with dementia. I have been the technological lead on most of these projects using technologies such as: Vue.js, Wordpress, Node.js, TypeScript, Nginx, Docker, MongoDB. Examples of my work can be found in the papers cited below where I developed the technologies they’re centred on.

Cerres Limited

Software Engineer (Internship)

November 2015 - March 2016

During my undergraduate degree, I took part in a work placement scheme at Cerres Ltd where I developed a management portal for mentors and students to organise lessons and groups for the charity the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. I gained experience with PHP and Laravel, and deploying a full LAMP stack for production.

Publications

Printer Pals: Experience-Centered Design to Support Agency for People with Dementia

Foley, S., Welsh, D., Pantidi, N., Morrissey, K., Nappey, T., & McCarthy, J. (2019). Printer Pals: Experience-Centered Design to Support Agency for People with Dementia. In Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI '19. ACM, New York, NY, USA, Paper 404, 13 pages.

Ticket to Talk: Supporting conversation between young people and people with dementia through digital media

Welsh, D., Morrissey, K., Foley, S., McNaney, R., Salis, C., McCarthy, J., & Vines, J. (2018). Ticket to Talk: Supporting conversation between young people and people with dementia through digital media. Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI ’18. New York, New York, USA: ACM Press.

StammerApp: Designing a mobile application to support self-reflection and goal setting for people who stammer

McNaney, R., Bull, C., Mackie, L., Dahman, F., Stringer, H., Richardson, D., & Welsh, D. (2018). StammerApp: Designing a mobile application to support self-reflection and goal setting for people who stammer. In Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI ’18. New York, New York, USA: ACM Press.

An intergenerational approach to dementia friendly communities

Welsh, D. (2018). An intergenerational approach to dementia friendly communities. In Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI ’18. Position Paper

Curating Conversations: Designing personalised media to support intergenerational engagement in dementia care

Welsh, D., Foley, S., & Morrissey, K. (2017). Curating Conversations: Designing personalised media to support intergenerational engagement in dementia care. In Dementia Lab '17. Design Event

DemYouth: Co-designing and enacting tools to support young people’s engagement with people with dementia

McNaney, R., Vines, J., Mercer, J., Mexter, L., Welsh, D., & Young, T. (2017). DemYouth: Co-designing and enacting tools to support young people’s engagement with people with dementia. In Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI ’17 (pp. 1313–1325). New York, New York, USA: ACM Press.

A Ticket to Talk: Scaffolding intergenerational interactions for dementia

Welsh, D. (2017). A Ticket to Talk: Scaffolding intergenerational interactions for dementia. In Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI ’17. Position Paper

Intersections in HCI, Design and Dementia: Inclusivity in Participatory Approaches

Rens Brankaert, Gail Kenning, Daniel Welsh, Sarah Foley, James Hodge, and David Unbehaun. 2019. Intersections in HCI, Design and Dementia: Inclusivity in Participatory Approaches. In Companion Publication of the 2019 on Designing Interactive Systems Conference 2019 Companion (DIS '19 Companion). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 357-360. Workshop