Dr. Cheng Zhang

Biography

Cheng Zhang is an Associate Professor with Tenure at Cornell University, where he leads the Smart Computer Interfaces for Future Interaction (SciFi) Lab. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology, working under the guidance of Dr. Gregory Abowd and Dr. Omer Inan. Zhang's research primarily focuses on the tangible impacts of technology in real-world contexts, particularly in the area of human-computer interaction. His notable early work includes the BeyondTouch BackTap project, which developed tapping gestures for smartphone interaction without the need for additional hardware. This work contributed to the implementation of Apple’s Back Tap feature. In addition to his academic research, he has established a startup named ContextualHCI, based in Montreal. His contributions to the field have been recognized with several awards, including the NSF CAREER Award and the Ubicomp 10-year Impact Award for Paper Awards Honorable Mentions. He is actively involved in professional activities and has been featured in global media such as BBC, Forbes, and CNET. Zhang continues to engage with the research community through workshops and presentations, sharing his insights on emerging technologies and their applications in everyday life.

Research Interests

Experience