publications

2020

1. 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.

2. 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 [PDF]

2019

1. 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
2. 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 [PDF]
3. 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 [PDF]
4. 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
5. Live Streaming in China for Sharing Knowledge and Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage Lu, Zhicong Interactions 2019

2018

1. 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 [PDF]
2. 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 [PDF]
3. 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.

2017

1. HCII

   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.

2. 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