Sergio Sayago
Tagline:Associate Professor of Human-Computer Interaction in Computer Science at the University of Lleida (Campus Igualada)
Igualada, Spain
About Me
I am an Associate Professor of Human-Computer Interaction in the Department of Computer Engineering and Digital Design at the University of Lleida. I coordinate the Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering and oversee its curricular internship programme at the Polytechnic School on the Igualada Campus, wherein I am actively involved in outreach and research initiatives, including the Annual Research Workshop and the First Lego League Igualada, which I lead.
I earned my degree in Computer Science in 2004 and completed a PhD in Computer Science and Digital Communication at Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona) in 2009. My academic experience includes postdoctoral research appointments at the University of Dundee (Scotland, Beatriu de Pinós Fellowship) and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain, Alliance 4 Universities Fellowship), as well as visiting lectureships at the University of Barcelona and the University of Lleida.
I am a member of the Human-Computer Interaction and Data Integration (GRIHO) research group, where I lead research on ageing and older adults. I am also a member of the Spanish Human-Computer Interaction Association (AIPO), which promotes research and education in HCI. As part of this work, I co-organised the first edition of the HCI Summer School for PhD students and served on the PC committee of Interacción 2023.
In addition to conference papers and peer-reviewed journal publications, I am the author of two books in the Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered Informatics series (Springer): Cultures in Human-Computer Interaction (2023) and Older Adults and Digital Technologies: Background, Design, Configurations, and Futures (2026), and the main editor of the collections Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction Research with Older Adults (2019) and Future Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction Research: Towards the Year 2030 (2025) in the Springer HCI Series.
I serve on the Editorial Boards of the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies and Interacting with Computers.
Research Interests
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Ageing and Digital Technologies
Selected Publications
Older Adults and Digital Technologies
BookPublisher:Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered InformaticsDate:2026Authors:Sergio SayagoCultures in Human-Computer Interaction
BookPublisher:Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered InformaticsDate:2023Authors:Sergio SayagoExploring the first experiences of computer programming of older people with low levels of formal education: A participant observational case study
Journal ArticlePublisher:International Journal of Human-Computer StudiesDate:2021Authors:Sergio SayagoÁngel BergantiñosCo-designing with a community of older learners for over 10 years by moving user-driven participation from the margin to the centre
Journal ArticlePublisher:CoDesignDate:2018Authors:Valeria RighiSergio SayagoAndrea RosalesSusan M. FerreiraJosep BlatWhen we talk about older people in HCI, who are we talking about? Towards a ‘turn to community’ in the design of technologies for a growing ageing population
Journal ArticlePublisher:International Journal of Human-Computer StudiesDate:2017Authors:Valeria RighiSergio SayagoJosep BlatOlder people’s production and appropriation of digital videos: an ethnographic study
Journal ArticlePublisher:Behaviour & Information TechnologyDate:2016Authors:Susan M. FerreiraSergio SayagoJosep BlatOn the Conceptualization, Design, and Evaluation of Appealing, Meaningful, and Playable Digital Games for Older People
Journal ArticlePublisher:Games and CultureDate:2015Authors:Sergio SayagoAndrea RosalesValeria RighiSusan M. FerreiraGraeme W. ColemanJosep BlatOlder People Becoming Successful ICT Learners Over Time: Challenges and Strategies Through an Ethnographical Lens
Journal ArticlePublisher:Educational GerontologyDate:2013Authors:Sergio SayagoPaula ForbesJosep BlatEveryday use of computer-mediated communication tools and its evolution over time: An ethnographical study with older people
Journal ArticlePublisher:Interacting with ComputersDate:2011Authors:Sergio SayagoDavid SloanJosep BlatTelling the story of older people e-mailing: An ethnographical study
Journal ArticlePublisher:International Journal of Human-Computer StudiesDate:2010Authors:Sergio SayagoJosep Blat
Teachings
Coordinator of the Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering Igualada
From: 2023, Until: present
Organization:Universitat de LleidaField:Computer Science
Coordinator of the Bachelor's degree in Digital Interaction and Computing Techniques
From: 2023, Until: present
Organization:Universitat de LleidaField:Computer Science
Academic positions
Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer
from: 2025, until: presentOrganization:Universitat de LleidaLocation:Campus Igualada
Lecturer
from: 2021, until: 2025Organization:Universitat de LleidaLocation:Campus Igualada
Post-doctoral researcher
from: 2019, until: 2021Organization:Universitat de LleidaLocation:Campus Igualada
Visiting Researcher & Lecturer
from: 2016, until: 2019Organization:Universitat de BarcelonaLocation:Barcelona, Spain
Visiting Lecturer & Researcher
from: 2014, until: 2016Organization:Universitat de LleidaLocation:Lleida, Spain
Post-doc
from: 2012, until: 2014Organization:Universidad Carlos III de MadridLocation:Madrid, Spain
Description:Post-doctoral researcher (Alliance 4 Universities fellowship)
Post-doc
from: 2010, until: 2012Organization:University of DundeeLocation:Scotland, United Kingdom
Description:Post-doctoral researcher (Beatriu de Pinós Fellowship)
Journal Contributions
Interacting with Computers
From: 2025
To: present
Associate Editor
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
From: 2019
To: present
Associate Editor
Conference Contributions
CHI
From: 2026
To: 2026
Associate Chair Subcommittee Ageing & Accessibility
ASSETS
From: 2026
To: 2026
Program Committee
CHI
From: 2025
To: 2025
Associate Chair Subcommittee Ageing & Accessibility
CHI
From: 2023
To: 2023
Associate Chair Subcommittee Ageing & Accessibility
interacción 2023
From: 2023
To: 2023
Program (and Organization) Committee,
CHI
From: 2022
To: 2022
Associate Chair Subcommittee Ageing & Accessibility
MobileHCI
From: 2018
To: 2018
Students Volunteer and Registration Chair
Talks
Investigación cualitativa en IPO: una introducción guiada y casos de estudio
Date: Jul 2026
Event name: II Escuela de Verano AIPO para estudiantes de doctorado en IPO .Location: online .
El factor cultural en la Interacción Persona-Ordenador
Date: Nov 2025
Event name: Màster en Llengua i Comunicació Digital de la Universitat de Lleida .Location: Online .
Education
PhD
from: 2005, until: 2009Field of study:Computer Science and Digital CommunicationSchool:University Pompeu FabraLocation:Barcelona, Spain
DescriptionDoctoral dissertation: Human-Computer Interaction with Older People: From Factors to Social Actors
MPhil
from: 2005, until: 2006Field of study:Computer Science and Digital ComunicationSchool:University Pompeu FabraLocation:Barcelona, Spain
Computer Science Engineering
from: 2002, until: 2004Field of study:Computer ScienceSchool:University Pompeu FabraLocation:Barcelona, Spain
Technical Engineering in Computer Systems
from: 1999, until: 2002Field of study:Computer ScienceSchool:University Pompeu FabraLocation:Barcelona, Spain