- Screen navigation system for visually impaired people Ohene-Djan, James and Fernando, Sandra. 2018. Screen navigation system for visually impaired people. Journal of Enabling Technologies, 12(3), pp. 114-128. ISSN 2398-6263
- Drawing for Blind Learners: Assistive Technology for Graphical Design Ohene-Djan, James and Fernando, Sandra. 2016. Drawing for Blind Learners: Assistive Technology for Graphical Design. 2016 IEEE 16th International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT), pp. 436-440.
- Recovery Spaces: An Enhanced Learning Technology for Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres Ohene-Djan, James and Jones, Mark. 2014. Recovery Spaces: An Enhanced Learning Technology for Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres. Technology for Education (T4E), 2014 IEEE Sixth International Conference,
- WinkBall for Schools: An Advanced Video Modelling Technology for Learning Visual and Oral Communication Skills Ohene-Djan, James. 2010. WinkBall for Schools: An Advanced Video Modelling Technology for Learning Visual and Oral Communication Skills. Proceedings of the 2010 10th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT '10), pp. 687-689.
- Road Safety and Deaf People: The Role of the Police Ohene-Djan, James; Hersh, Marion and Naqvi, Saduf. 2010. Road Safety and Deaf People: The Role of the Police. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 38(4), pp. 316-331. ISSN 1085-2352
- Investigating road safety issues and deaf people in the United kingdom: an empirical study and recommendations for good practice. Hersh, Marion; Ohene-Djan, James and Naqvi, Saduf. 2010. Investigating road safety issues and deaf people in the United kingdom: an empirical study and recommendations for good practice. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 38(4), pp. 290-305. ISSN 1540-7330
- A neuropsychological perspective on measuring sign language learning and comprehension Spiegel, Rainer; Naqvi, Saduf; Ohene-Djan, James; Moore, David R and Hsiao, Eling. 2007. A neuropsychological perspective on measuring sign language learning and comprehension. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 2(1), ISSN 1868-8799
- A personalisable electronic book for video-based sign language education Ohene-Djan, James; Gorle, M.; Naqvi, S. and Zimmer, Robert. 2003. A personalisable electronic book for video-based sign language education. Educational Technology & Society, 6(4), pp. 86-99. ISSN 11763647
- Personalising Electronic Books Ohene-Djan, James and Fernandes, A.. 2003. Personalising Electronic Books. Journal of Digital Information, 3(4), ISSN 1368-7506
- Modelling Personalisable Hypermedia: The Goldsmiths Model Ohene-Djan, James and Fernandes, Alvaro A.A.. 2002. Modelling Personalisable Hypermedia: The Goldsmiths Model. New Review of Hypermedia and Multimedia, 8(1), pp. 99-137. ISSN 1361-4568
Dr James Ohene-Djan
James Ohene-Djan’s work focuses on human-centred computing, digital health, dyslexia, inclusive learning, adaptive technologies and computing for public good.
Staff details
Professor James Ohene-Djan is a Professor in the Department of Computing at Goldsmiths, University of London. His work brings together computer science, entrepreneurship, digital health, inclusive education, accessibility, social technology and public service.
Across his career, James has focused on how computing can be used to create technologies that genuinely improve people’s lives. His early research in adaptive hypermedia, personalisable web systems and advanced learning technologies provided the foundation for wider work in adaptive learning, assistive technology, social video, digital communication and human-centred computing.
A major strand of his research has been the design of inclusive technologies for Deaf and hearing-impaired learners, blind and visually impaired users, dyslexic students and people who need more accessible forms of digital communication. This has included work on British Sign Language learning technologies, emotional subtitles, digital sign writing, accessible drawing systems, screen navigation tools and AI-supported learning.
James has also made a substantial contribution to teaching and academic leadership at Goldsmiths. He has taught across business computing, information systems, electronic commerce, database systems, telecommunications, digital venture creation, programming and final-year project work. He has held senior roles including Associate Pro Warden for Student Experience, Academic Director of the Technical Team, Senior Tutor, Director of Enterprise and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator.
James is an experienced technology founder whose research has moved into major public-facing systems, including WinkBall, Viewtalk, QR Touch TV and MiCode. WinkBall became a large-scale video communication platform, training more than 500 digital video reporters and covering thousands of public, cultural, sporting and political events. His work has also supported projects in education, healthcare, mental health, addiction recovery, charity work and community wellbeing.
James is the founder of MiCode, a medical emergency QR code technology designed to make essential medical and emergency information available quickly when needed. His recent research also focuses on dyslexia, neurodiversity and AI in education.
His work is united by a practical and social vision of computing: technologies that help people learn, communicate, recover, stay safe, access services and live with greater dignity.
Areas of supervision
James welcomes research proposals in human-centred computing, adaptive and personalisable systems, inclusive learning technologies, digital health, AI in education, dyslexia and neurodiversity, assistive technologies, QR code systems, digital entrepreneurship and civic technologies for social good.
Publications and research outputs
Article
- A Co-Designed QR Code Platform for Delivering Multilingual, Age-Appropriate Medicines Information to Children and Families at the Point of Dispensing: Development and Usability Study Tomlin, Stephen; Ohene-Djan, James; Oulton, Kate; Gould, Jessica; Hall, Michael; Clee, Isobel and Garfield, Sara. 2026. A Co-Designed QR Code Platform for Delivering Multilingual, Age-Appropriate Medicines Information to Children and Families at the Point of Dispensing: Development and Usability Study. BMJ Open Quality, ISSN 2399-6641
- A computer aided drawing system evaluation with early and late blind users Fernando, Sandra and Ohene-Djan, James. 2022. A computer aided drawing system evaluation with early and late blind users. Assistive Technology: The Official Journal of RESNA, 34(4), pp. 392-401. ISSN 1040-0435
- An empirical evaluation of a graphics creation technique for blind and visually impaired individuals Fernando, Sandra and Ohene-Djan, James. 2021. An empirical evaluation of a graphics creation technique for blind and visually impaired individuals. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 39(3), pp. 191-213. ISSN 0264-6196
Conference or Workshop Item
- Interactive Multimodal Colour Spectrum Interface for Visualising Dyslexic Reading Dynamics Ohene-Djan, James and Medlam, Claudia. 2026. 'Interactive Multimodal Colour Spectrum Interface for Visualising Dyslexic Reading Dynamics'. In: HCI International 2026: 28th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction. Montreal, Canada 26 - 31 July 2026.
- Delivering Multilingual, Age-Appropriate Medicines Information to Children: Development and Usability Study Tomlin, Stephen; Ohene-Djan, James; Oulton, Kate; Gould, Jessica; Hall, Michael; Clee, Isobel and Garfield, Sara. 2026. 'Delivering Multilingual, Age-Appropriate Medicines Information to Children: Development and Usability Study'. In: NPPG 32nd Annual Professional Conference & Exhibition 2026. Marriott Renaissance Hotel Heathrow, London, United Kingdom 9-10 October 2026.
- Visual Analytics of Dyslexic Reading: An Interactive RGB Spectrum for Multimodal Reading Dynamics Ohene-Djan, James and Medlam, Claudia. 2026. 'Visual Analytics of Dyslexic Reading: An Interactive RGB Spectrum for Multimodal Reading Dynamics'. In: IV2026 – 30th International Conference Information Visualisation, HCI – Human-Computer Interaction for Information Visualization. London, United Kingdom 28-31 July 2026.
Project
- The Monument is the Struggle Graham, Janna; Andrews, Jorella G.; Paquete Pereira, Lara; Ohene-Djan, James; Jacca, Joyce and Tracey, Jarrett. 2024. The Monument is the Struggle.
- WinkBall, ViewTalk and QR Touch TV White Paper Ohene-Djan, James. 2009 - ongoing WinkBall, ViewTalk and QR Touch TV White Paper.
Research Interests
James’s research is concerned with the design of digital systems that are adaptive, inclusive and useful in the real world. His work asks how computing can be used to support people who need better access to information, learning, healthcare, communication and public services.
His research has developed across four connected areas.
First, he has worked on adaptive and personalisable systems, including hypermedia, web-based interaction and digital learning technologies. This research examines how systems can respond to users’ needs, preferences and contexts.
Second, he has worked on inclusive and assistive technologies, including systems for Deaf and hearing-impaired learners, blind and visually impaired users, and students with dyslexia. This work includes British Sign Language learning technologies, emotional subtitles, accessible drawing systems and AI-supported approaches to spelling, reading and learning.
Third, he has worked on digital health and QR code technologies, particularly through MiCode and his collaboration with Great Ormond Street Hospital. This research explores how simple digital tools can make medical and emergency information clearer, safer and more accessible.
Fourth, he has worked on digital entrepreneurship and social technology, including large-scale video communication platforms, public engagement technologies, recovery-focused systems, mental health resources and civic technologies for community benefit.
Current research
James is currently researching personalised and adaptive technologies for inclusive education, digital health and social good.
His current work includes AI-supported learning for students with dyslexia and other neurodiverse learners. This includes morphemic approaches to spelling, visual analytics of dyslexic reading, adaptive assessment design and the development of learning technologies that help students access complex academic material more confidently.
He is also researching QR code-enabled digital health communication through MiCode and related projects. This includes work on multilingual, age-appropriate medicines information for children and families, developed in collaboration with Great Ormond Street Hospital. The project examines how QR code platforms can support clearer and more accessible communication at the point of dispensing.
A wider aim of this work is to connect physical and digital information in ways that are simple, low-cost and immediately useful. Cards, bracelets, labels, stickers, medicine packaging and printed materials can all become gateways to personalised, multilingual and contextually relevant digital information.
Grants and funded projects
CPHC Special Projects Grant
Project title: Empowering Neurodiverse Learners in Computer Science: A Personalised AI Framework for Dyslexic Students
Awardee: Professor James Ohene-Djan, Goldsmiths, University of London
Date of award: 4 December 2025
Amount awarded: £4,680
Role: Principal applicant
Awardee: Professor James Ohene-Djan, Goldsmiths, University of London
Date of award: 4 December 2025
Amount awarded: £4,680
Role: Principal applicant
This project investigates how personalised AI can support dyslexic students studying computer science. It explores how AI-driven tools can provide adaptive explanations, alternative learning formats, spelling support and more accessible approaches to computing education while maintaining academic rigour.
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity Lift Off Grant: Patient Focussed Research
Project title: Digital Medicines Information
Reference: Lift_Off_PB_015 / VS2521
Amount requested: £72,267.10
Amount awarded: £72,268.00
Dates: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025
Lead applicant: Stephen Tomlin, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Co-applicants: Sara Garfield, UCL School of Pharmacy; Professor James Ohene-Djan, Goldsmiths, University of London
Role: Co-applicant – Digital / Computing expertise
Reference: Lift_Off_PB_015 / VS2521
Amount requested: £72,267.10
Amount awarded: £72,268.00
Dates: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025
Lead applicant: Stephen Tomlin, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Co-applicants: Sara Garfield, UCL School of Pharmacy; Professor James Ohene-Djan, Goldsmiths, University of London
Role: Co-applicant – Digital / Computing expertise
This project focuses on the development and feasibility evaluation of a QR-code platform for multilingual, age-appropriate paediatric medicines information at the point of dispensing. It brings together digital health, medicines information, human-centred design, accessibility and paediatric patient communication.
Professional and civic roles
James’s work extends beyond the university into public service, charity governance and community engagement.
He serves as a magistrate, contributing to the justice system and to public life. He is a trustee of Steps 2 Recovery, a charity supporting people affected by drug and alcohol dependency, and has contributed to recovery-focused technology and communication projects. He is also involved with Mulberry Schools Trust, supporting educational opportunity, aspiration and routes into higher education for young people.
These roles are closely connected to his academic work. They reflect a commitment to public service, social justice and the practical use of knowledge to support people, families and communities.
