Sybille Caffiau

Sybille Caffiau serves as an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Grenoble Alpes, France, where she is affiliated with the Grenoble Computer Science Laboratory (LIG) within the College of Engineering. Her research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with specializations in smart home systems, end-user development, and voice-based interaction technologies. She maintains an active research program through the Human-Computer Interaction Engineering Team (IIHM/ECMI).

Her primary research interests center on making smart home technologies more accessible through innovative interaction paradigms. Key areas include context-aware programming languages like CCBL (Cascading Contexts Based Language), voice interface design for ambient assisted living, tactile feedback mechanisms, and task model comprehension. Her work bridges theoretical HCI principles with practical applications in real-world smart home environments, particularly focusing on user-centered design approaches that empower inhabitants as developers of their own living spaces.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on improving end-user programmability in smart homes through novel language design (CCBL), empirical validation of voice interfaces, and educational frameworks for HCI engineering. Her research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between interaction design, programming language theory, and accessibility considerations, with particular emphasis on creating systems that accommodate diverse user needs including elderly populations and people with visual impairments.

Through projects like SWEET-HOME and VocADom, Caffiau has contributed significantly to voice-based interaction in smart home environments, developing corpus collections and evaluating system performance against user experience metrics. Her work on educational frameworks for HCI engineering demonstrates commitment to advancing pedagogy in the field through structured case studies and practical teaching methodologies.