Joe Breda
About Me
I am a final year PhD student advised by Shwetak Patel in the Ubiquitous Computing Lab at the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineer.
My research focuses on human-centric sensing and applied artificial intelligence to enhance health, sustainability, and societal well-being. This includes repurposing, or building on top of, ubiquitous technology platforms like smartphones, wearables, and AI agents for new applications in public and environmental health. My work is impact-driven, translating foundational computer science research to societal challenges through the development of scalable sensing and AI systems for real-world problems. Some example applications I am most excited about include disease prevention, promoting sustainable and healthy behavior, context-aware AI, and urbanism.
Recent News
- FeverPhone highlighted in GetMobile Column Article!
- ProxiCycle featured in NPR All Things Considered!
- Two papers on improving navigation platforms for active transportation accepted to CHI 2025!
- FeverPhone won Distinguished Paper Award at Ubicomp 2024!
- Spent the summer of 2024 deploying smart bicycle sensors in Seattle.
- Thailand Rideshare Study Published in CSCW 2024!
- Traveled to the NIH in DC to conduct a clinical trials, October 2023.
- Traveled to Cancun to present FeverPhone at Ubicomp 2023.
- Traveled to Germany for the 10th Heidelberg Laureate Forum!
- Traveled to Thailand again to deploy mobile AQI sensors with motorcycle drivers, July 2023.
- FeverPhone Published in IMWUT 2023!
- Traveled to Thailand to conduct qualitative interviews wtih rideshare drivers, August 2022.
- Left my Student Researcher Position at Google, August 2022.
- Spent Summer 2022 part-time at Google and part-time conducting a clinical trial for FeverPhone at UW Northwest Hospital.
Research Approach
My core technical expertise is in developing applied AI and human-centric sensing systems.
However, the societal applications I work with often call for longitudinal deployment studies, collecting specialized evaluation datasets, deep empirical investigation, and human-centric methods.
Because of this, I have significant experience designing complex, often
While I typically build passive and scalable sensing systems by leveraging sensors already built into ubiquitous devices like smartphones and wearables, thanks to my inspiring labmates, I have also explored building custom hardware for novel interfaces.
Notable Experiences
I have collaborated with a variety of stakeholders and instutitions including: the National Institute of Health (NIH), UW Medicine Emergency Department, and local cycling and pedestrian activist organizations to deploy novel personal health and environmental sensing systems.
Previously, I was a Student Researcher at Google Research where I worked on geospatial computer vision models for forecasting driver safety to improve Google Maps.
I have also traveled to Bangkok and Chiang Mai Thailand to conduct a mixed-methods study and mobile sensor deployment to understand the experience of gig-workers in relation to severe pollution exposure.
I also founded and lead the Allen School Graduate Entrepreneurship Club and helped start the CS4Env cross-department collaborative initiative.
Personal Interests
Outside of research, I like to make CGI posters, compose and produce electronic music, play guitar, and take photos. I am particulary inspired by ambience, harsh noise, procedurally generated art, contrasting natural and synthetic textures, and the design of everyday things. I also like cycling, bouldering, creative writing, making iced pour-over coffee, and engaging with public space.
Publications
Lessons Learned From FeverPhone: Towards Scalable, Accessible At-Home Diagnostics via Fever Detection on Unmodified Smartphones
GetMobile: Mobile Computing and Communications, 2025 pdf
ProxiCycle: Passively Mapping Cyclist Safety Using Smart Handlebars for Near-Miss Detection
Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), 2025 pdf GeekWire
UW News Video | Appeared on NPR All Things Considered! | NPR Short Wave!
NightLight: A smartphone middleware application for passively mapping nighttime sidewalk light data for improved pedestrian routing
Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), 2025 pdf
* Indicates equal contribution
Exploring and characterizing large language models for embedded system development and debugging
Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI LBW 2024 pdf
Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (CSCW), 2024 pdf
* Indicates equal contribution
Thermal Earring: Low-power Wireless Earring for Longitudinal Earlobe Temperature Sensing
Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies (IMWUT), 2024 pdf
Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies (IMWUT), 2023 pdf Gizmodo
Understanding People's Concerns and Attitudes Towards Smart Cities
Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), 2023 pdf
Passively Sensing SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Public Transit Buses
Science of the Total Environment, 2022 pdf
Phone-based ambient temperature sensing using opportunistic crowdsensing and machine learning
Sustainable Computing: Informatics and Systems, 2021 pdf
Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Reframing Urban Agriculture as an Opportunity for Social Engagement
Self-Sustainable CHI'20 pdf
Hot or Not: Leveraging Mobile Devices for Ubiquitous Temperature Sensing
BuildSys'19 pdf
Staring at the Sun: A Physical Black-box Solar Performance Model
BuildSys'18 pdf
Fancy That: Measuring Electricity Grid Voltage Using a Phone and a Fan
COMPASS'18 pdf
