Research

[Ongoing] Towards a Framework for AI-Supported Mediation in Community-based Online Collaboration

Lead Researcher, University of Washington

Overview

Working toward building an information-focused framework with content, culture, and people as the main information elements.

Publication

Soobin Cho, Mark Zachry, and David W. McDonald. A Framework for AI-Supported Mediation in Community-based Online Collaboration. 2025 CSCW workshop 'Augmenting Collaborative Problem-Solving: Exploring the Design and Use of GenAI for Groupwork' [pdf]

[Ongoing] Building a Culture-Sensitive AI for Discussions in Wikipedia

Lead Researcher, University of Washington

Overview

Currently preparing training datasets of Wikipedia policy application cases.

[Ongoing] Exploring How AI Can Assist Comprehension of Wikipedia Discussions

Lead Researcher, University of Washington

Overview

Created a web-based prototype with LLM-powered features and iteratively refined functionality through user feedback.

Understanding How LLMs Impact Participation in Knowledge Communities with a Focus on Wikipedia

Research Assistant, University of Washington

Role

Assisted with qualitative interview analysis and the structuring of key insights that revealed differing impacts on experienced and novice editors.

Publication

Under review

Examining Wikipedian Views on Key Elements of Discussion Summaries

Lead Researcher, University of Washington

Overview

Conducted interviews identifying 13 key elements for discussion summaries and found that AI summaries often missed community-specific aspects.

Publication

Soobin Cho, Mark Zachry, and David W. McDonald. Towards Insider Summarization for Mediation Instead of Moderation: Examining Wikipedian Views on Key Elements of Discussion Summaries. CSCW'25 [pdf]

Understanding Co-Studying Activity on Video Conferencing Rooms

Lead Researcher, Seoul National University

Overview

Conducted interviews, a survey, and video analysis to uncover the tension between users’ desire to hide and reveal themselves on camera.

Publication

Soobin Cho, Joongseek Lee, and Bongwon Suh. “I Want to Reveal, but I Also Want to Hide” Understanding the Conflict of Revealing and Hiding Needs in Virtual Study Rooms. CSCW’23 [pdf]

Designing a New Video Conferencing Interface for Virtual Studying

Lead Researcher, Seoul National University

Overview

Designed and conducted usability testing of video conferencing interfaces that detect study-related motion while minimizing camera exposure.

Publication

Soobin Cho, Bongwon Suh, and Joongseek Lee. “Hide Your Video, Show Your Action!” Investigating a New Video Conferencing Interface for Virtual Studying. CSCW’22 Poster [pdf]

Investigating Information Needed for Awareness between Remote Workers

Lead Researcher, Seoul National University

Overview

Designed a pseudo-service and ran a one-week usability study with remote workers to examine which awareness information they wanted to share and receive.

Publication

Soobin Cho, Bongwon Suh, and Joongseek Lee. Not Too Much, Nor Too Less: Investigating Which Information Should Be Shared for Awareness Between Remote Workers. CSCW’20 Poster [pdf]

Rethinking Design Principles for AI Companions

Lead Researcher, University of Washington

Overview

Conducted a five-phase multi-method study showing the collapse of ethics-UX boundaries in AI companion design and the need for flexible principle implementation.

Publication

Under review

Exploring Short-Lived AI Companion Chatbots through Collaborative Autoethnography

Lead Researcher, University of Washington

Overview

Led a 10-day collaborative autoethnography with AI companion chatbots as part of the broader five-phase study.

Publication

Soobin Cho, Anna Lindner, Joseph S. Schafer, Pitch Sinlapanuntakul, Julie A. Vera, and Mark Zachry. Collaborative Autoethnography as a Method to Explore Short-Lived Social AI Chatbots. HAI’25 Poster [pdf]

Designing a Knowledge-Sharing Chatbot for a Co-Living Space

Lead Researcher, Seoul National University

Overview

Designed a chatbot prototype supporting information sharing through interviews and a co-creation workshop, and conducted a one-week usability study in a co-living space.

Publications

Sang Ah Park, Yoon Young Lee, Soobin Cho, Minjoon Kim, and Joongseek Lee. “Knock Knock, Here Is an Answer from Next Door”: Designing a Knowledge Sharing Chatbot to Connect Residents: Community Chatbot Design Case Study. CSCW’21 Poster [pdf]

Sang Ah Park, Soobin Cho, Yoon Young Lee, and Joongseek Lee. ‘Naver Knowledge-iN’ in a Speaker: Designing a Voice-Based Knowledge Sharing Service. HCIK 2021 [pdf]

Understanding Single Households’ Casual Conversations with Smart Speakers

Lead Researcher, Seoul National University

Overview

Conducted a six-week field study of single households’ smart speaker use, revealing limits to casual conversation.

Publication

Soobin Cho, Yoon Young Lee, Sang Ah Park, and Joongseek Lee. “Can Smart Speaker Be the ‘SimSimi’ for Single Households?”: Study on the Use of Smart Speakers by Single Households. HCIK 2021 [pdf]

Building a Smart Speaker Application for Classical Music Beginners

Research Assistant, Seoul National University

Role

Assisted in designing a smart speaker service introducing classical music and collected VOCs during a 15-day usability study.

Media Reports

Seoul Economic Daily, Aju News, E Daily, MBN News, New Daily, Sports Seoul, Nate News, Seoul Culture Today

Investigating Auditory Cues for Separateness of AI Speaker Services

Lead Researcher, Seoul National University

Overview

Designed and conducted usability testing of smart speaker services featuring different auditory cues.

Publication

Soobin Cho and Joongseek Lee. Study on Auditory Cues for Conversation Separateness in AI Speaker Multi-Turn Services. HCIK 2020 [pdf]

Designing to Protect Privacy and Reduce Fear for Teens on Social Media

Research Assistant, University of Washington

Role

Assisted in analyzing interviews on teens’ social media fears and in surveying ten empowerment-focused design prototypes.

Publication

JaeWon Kim, Soobin Cho, Robert Wolfe, Jishnu Hari Nair, and Alexis Hiniker. Privacy as Social Norm: Systematically Empowering Teen Privacy Management on Social Media. CSCW’25 [pdf]