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About

About

Associate Professor with Habilitation at University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) and Senior Researcher at INESC TEC.

He earned a doctorate in UTAD in 2002 in Electrical Engineering and held in 2008 the Habilitation in Informatics/Accessibility. I was Associate Professor in December 2012.

He was Pro-Rector for Innovation and Information Management at UTAD, from 23 July 2010 to 29 July 2013.

He produced over 150 scientific papers, including book chapters, journal articles and articles in proceedings of scientific events. He supervised 40 postgraduate students (masters and doctorates).
He was member of the research team in 35 research and development projects.

He was member of several organizing committees of the international scientific meetings. In 2006 he directed the team that created the conference "Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion (www.dsai.ws/2016) and in 2016 the conference Technology and Innovation is Sports, Health and Wellbeing (www.tishw.ws/2016).
The main research interests are: Digital Image Processing, Accessibility and Human Computer Interaction.

Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HBVvNYQAAAAJ&hl=en

SCOPUS: http://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.url?authorId=20435746800

Interest
Topics
Details

Details

  • Name

    João Barroso
  • Role

    Research Coordinator
  • Since

    01st October 2012
015
Publications

2026

Adaptive User Interface for Electric Vehicle Route Information in Urban Mobility Services

Authors
Vigário, A; Oliveira, J; Fernandes, R; Pinto, T; Reis, AMD; Rocha, TDJVD; Barroso, JMP;

Publication
Learning and Analytics in Intelligent Systems

Abstract
Growing urbanisation, the development of smart cities, and environmental concerns have driven the implementation of advanced technologies and the modernisation of transport systems. Electric motorcycles have emerged as an effective solution for mobility, but they also present specific challenges, particularly related to the mode of riding, which is more complex than that of other vehicles and requires greater attention, skill, and preparation. Therefore, the interaction between the rider and the support system must be carefully designed, with particular emphasis on the interface and the adaptation of route information. This interface should be intuitive, accessible, and capable of presenting relevant information in a clear and objective manner, minimising distractions while riding. In addition, it must be adaptable to user preferences, allowing for customisation such as colour themes, levels of detail in the information displayed, or specific notifications regarding adverse weather and road conditions. Adapting route information provides a more efficient, safe, and satisfactory user experience. It enables riders to access personalised information, continuously updated in real time and tailored to the situation and their specific needs, including traffic conditions, road surface state, and weather conditions. This optimisation leads to better time management, energy consumption, and overall ride quality, enhancing urgent and non-urgent services. Moreover, integrating clearly and objectively features such as voice commands and compatibility with mobile or wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches) can facilitate real-time interaction without compromising safety. The interface should also offer advanced functionalities in line with technological developments and user needs, adapting to each rider’s specific requirements. This not only improves the individual experience but also promotes efficiency and sustainability, contributing to the advancement of smart cities and innovative mobility solutions. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

2026

Comparative Evaluation of Multimodal Large Language Models for Technical Content Simplification and Visual Interpretation

Authors
Pilarski, L; Luiz, E; Gomes, S; Pinto, T; Filipe, V; Rijo, G; Barroso, JMP;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Abstract
This study highlights the critical role of Large Language Model (LLM) in simplifying technical content and integrating visual data for accessible communication. It compares GPT-4 and Llama-3.2-90b-Vision-Preview, focusing on readability, semantic similarity, and multimodal interpretation using robust metrics like Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning Fog Index, and CLIP Score. GPT-4 retains key information and achieves high semantic and textual integration scores, making it more suitable for complex technical scenarios. Furthermore, LLaMA prioritizes readability and simplicity, outperforming in generating accessible captions. Both models show optimal performance with a temperature setting of 0.5, balancing simplicity and meaning preservation. The research underscores LLM potential to democratize technical knowledge across disciplines but notes precision and multimodal integration limitations. Future directions include fine-tuning for domain-specific applications and expanding input modalities to enhance accessibility and efficiency in real-world technical tasks. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

2026

A Software Platform for an Intelligent Mobility Ecosystem

Authors
Reis, AMD; Paulino, A; Pinto, T; Barroso, JMP;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Abstract
Software ecosystems have emerged as a paradigm to structure software products, communities and business models, in a form inspired by the natural ecosystems. Mobility solutions are also evolving from individual vehicles to soft mobility services based on electric vehicles. This paper aims to address the creation of a software platform to support an ecosystem of mobility solutions—the Intelligent Mobility Ecosystem, based on connected electric vehicles. It follows the paradigm of software ecosystems, in which a technological platform provides the functionalities needed to create solutions within the ecosystem. The work being carried out is part of the A-Mover project, which aims to develop a connected electric motorcycle and electronic services to support driving and use of the vehicle in individual and business contexts. The aim is to develop a set of functionalities around the vehicle to create specific mobility solutions. The concept of a software ecosystem is reviewed below and the proposed architecture for the software platform that will support the ecosystem is described. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

2026

NonVisual Pong: Enhancing Digital Accessibility Through Audio and Haptic Gaming for the Visually Impaired

Authors
Rocha, TDJVD; Nunes, RR; Barroso, JMP;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Abstract
The video game industry has grown to become one of the largest in the market, surpassing even the film industry over a decade ago (Statista in Video game industry revenue worldwide 2000–2020). However, the development of games designed with visually impaired players in mind is still almost non-existent when compared to the sheer number of games released yearly. NonVisual Pong is our approach to addressing this challenge, providing blind players with a way to engage in competitive fun through gaming. We took the original Pong game from 1972 and fully adapted it to be played using only a controller—no visual display required. Following the development process, we tested our implementation with experts, discovering that, overall, our game was easy to pick up, required no overly complex setup, and successfully delivered the intended experience. Players enjoyed a balanced challenge and immersion, facilitated by audio cues and the controller’s vibrations. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

2026

Data Governance Meets Generative Artificial Intelligence: Towards A Unified Organizational Framework

Authors
Bernardo B.M.V.; Mamede H.S.; Barroso J.M.P.; Naranjo-Zolotov M.; Duarte Dos Santos V.M.P.;

Publication
Emerging Science Journal

Abstract
As technology continues to evolve, organizations face growing and complex challenges and opportunities that affect their ability to govern, manage and harness data as a key source of competitive advantage. Equally, data are considered a powerful and unique source of success for organizations, which in turn, can impact their decision-making capabilities and play a critical role in their success. Hence, this article aims to provide a detailed identification, analysis and discussion over the current data governance context and its existing frameworks, highlighting their commonalities, differences and gaps, including ones related to data governance relationship with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). This article conducts an extensive methodological and in-depth analysis over a set of sixteen data governance frameworks based on different key data governance attributes, denoting that although there are numerous frameworks, they hold weaknesses, limitations and challenges which prevent them from being capable of incorporating and governing the use and management of AI, particularly the demands originating from GenAI. Our findings provide and propose a new and enhanced data governance framework which integrates the best features and ideas from the existing ones and initiatives derived from the advancements and particularities of AI and GenAI models, systems, and overall usage.