I’m Zhicong Lu (陆志聪, Caleb), an assitant professor at Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong. I finished my PhD in Computer Science and under the supervision of Professor Daniel Wigdor. Previously I was a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies of Information and Art Design in Tsinghua University, China, supervised by Professor Ying-Qing Xu and Professor Yuanchun Shi. Before starting my master, I had a bachelor of Electronic Engineering and Game Design at Tsinghua University.

My research interests lie at the intersection of HCI, social computing, computational social science, and machine learning, especially in studying, designing, and building systems that support social interactions, to enhance trust, engagement, and knowledge sharing in virtual and physical spaces. I am currently exploring how to leverage live streaming for sharing knowledge and safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

For more information, see my CV.

How to join my group:

I am looking for talented and highly motivated PhD students and RAs/interns who are interested in social computing and computational social science to join my group.If you are interested in working with me, please send me an email with your CV.

news & travel

2021-03	Our CHI 2021 paper got a Best Paper Honourable Mention Award! (Top 5% submissions)
2021-01	Started my appointment as an assistant professor at CityU HK
2020-12	Two first-authored papers accepted to ACM CSCW 2021
2020-12	Three papers accepted to ACM CHI 2021
2019-12	Our paper on misinformation in China has been accepted to ACM CHI 2020

publications

2021

CHI

More Kawaii than a Real-Person Streamer: Understanding How the Otaku Community Engages with and Perceives Virtual YouTubers

Lu, Zhicong, Shen, Chenxinran, Li, Jiannan, Shen, Hong, and Wigdor, Daniel

In Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2021

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CHI

The Labor of Fun: Understanding the Social Relationships between Gamers and Paid Gaming Teammates in China

CHI 2021 Best Paper Honourable Mention

Shen, Chenxinran, Lu, Zhicong, Faas, Travis, and Wigdor, Daniel

In Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2021

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CHI

All in One Group: Current Practices, Lessons and Challenges of Chinese Home-School Communication in IM Group Chat

Yao, Zheng, Gong, Jiangtao, and Lu, Zhicong

In Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2021
CSCW

StreamSketch: Exploring Multi-Modal Interactions in Creative Live Streams

Lu, Zhicong, Kazi, Ribaiat Habib, Wei, Li-yi, Dontcheva, Mira, and Karahalios, Karrie

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CSCW) (to appear at CSCW 2021) 2021
CSCW

“Positive Energy”: Perceptions and Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Information on Social Media in China

Lu, Zhicong, Jiang, Yue, Shen, Chenxinran, Jack, Margaret, Wigdor, Daniel, and Naaman, Mor

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CSCW) (to appear at CSCW 2021) 2021

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2020

CHI

The Government’s Dividend: Complex Perceptions of Social Media Misinformation in China

Lu, Zhicong, Jiang, Yue, Lu, Cheng, Naaman, Mor, and Wigdor, Daniel

In Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2020

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HCII

Exploring TikTok Use and Non-use Practices and Experiences in China

Lu, Xing, Lu, Zhicong, and Liu, Changqing

In Social Computing and Social Media. Participation, User Experience, Consumer Experience, and Applications of Social Computing, HCI International 2020

Abs

Short-form video sharing mobile applications like TikTok (Douyin) have been gaining traction globally in recent years. These video sharing platforms have transformed how users consume online content in a drastic way. The recommendation algorithms of these applications form a “ludic loop” for users – the more users watch videos, the better the algorithms work, and the more users are exposed to content of their interest. Although prior research has explored how and why users watch short-form videos, relatively little research has studied those who choose not to use Douyin. To address this, we conducted a survey study with Internet users in China (N = 192), focusing specifically on Douyin and those who have abandoned or never adopted Douyin. Our results show that various perceptions of these users shape diverse practices of engagement with and disengagement from Douyin. Those who choose not to use Douyin are mostly motivated by the fear of addiction, or the stigmatized perceptions of videos on Douyin that deemed low-quality. Those who are using Douyin and those who choose to quit Douyin have different perceptions of the efficacy of Douyin’s recommendation algorithms. We situate our findings with prior research on technology non-use, and provide design implications for future video-based social media.

2019

Live Streaming in China for Sharing Knowledge and Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage

Lu, Zhicong

Interactions 2019
Improving Viewer Engagement and Communication Efficiency within Non-Entertainment Live Streaming

Lu, Zhicong

In The Adjunct Publication of the 32nd Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology 2019
CSCW

Vicariously Experiencing It All Without Going Outside: A Study of Outdoor Livestreaming in China

Lu, Zhicong, Annett, Michelle, and Wigdor, Daniel

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 3(CSCW) 2019

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CHI

“I Feel It is My Responsibility to Stream”: Streaming and Engaging with Intangible Cultural Heritage through Livestreaming

CHI 2019 Best Paper Award

Lu, Zhicong, Annett, Michelle, Fan, Mingming, and Wigdor, Daniel

In Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2019

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HCII

Fifteen Seconds of Fame: A Qualitative Study of Douyin, A Short Video Sharing Mobile Application in China

Lu, Xing, and Lu, Zhicong

In Social Computing and Social Media. Participation, User Experience, Consumer Experience, and Applications of Social Computing, HCI International 2019

2018

CHI

You Watch, You Give, and You Engage: A Study of Live Streaming Practices in China

Lu, Zhicong, Xia, Haijun, Heo, Seongkook, and Wigdor, Daniel

In Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2018

Abs PDF

Despite gaining traction in North America, live streaming has not reached the popularity it has in China, where live- streaming has a tremendous impact on the social behaviors of users. To better understand this socio-technological phenomenon, we conducted a mixed methods study of live streaming practices in China. We present the results of an online survey of 527 live streaming users, focusing on their broadcasting or viewing practices and the experiences they find most engaging. We also interviewed 14 active users to explore their motivations and experiences. Our data revealed the different categories of content that was broadcasted and how varying aspects of this content engaged viewers. We also gained insight into the role reward systems and fan group-chat play in engaging users, while also finding evidence that both viewers and streamers desire deeper channels and mechanisms for interaction in addition to the commenting, gifting, and fan groups that are available today.
CSCW

StreamWiki: Enabling Viewers of Knowledge Sharing Live Streams to Collaboratively Generate Archival Documentation for Effective In-Stream and Post Hoc Learning

Lu, Zhicong, Heo, Seongkook, and Wigdor, Daniel J.

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 2(CSCW) 2018

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VIS

InkPlanner: Supporting prewriting via intelligent visual diagramming

Lu, Zhicong, Fan, Mingming, Wang, Yun, Zhao, Jian, Annett, Michelle, and Wigdor, Daniel

IEEE transactions on visualization and computer graphics 2018

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2017

Comparing Mid-Air Finger Motion with Touch for Small Target Acquisition on Wearable Devices

Fan, Mingming, Hettiarachchi, Anuruddha, Lu, Zhicong, Ha, Seyong, and Gupta, Priyank

In Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2017
HCII EA

The Rise and Proliferation of Live-Streaming in China: Insights and Lessons

Lin, Jinglan, and Lu, Zhicong

In HCI International 2017 – Posters’ Extended Abstracts 2017

Abs

The $5 billion dollar live streaming industry has a tremendous impact on the social behaviours of internet users in China. However, despite early appearance of the technology in the North America, live streaming has yet to reach the level it has in China. Using observations from the rise and proliferation of live streaming services in China, we identify some culture and social insights about the phenomenon as well as some lessons that we can apply to North America.