Akila's Notes

About

Hi, I’m Akila. I like figuring out how things work, learning, thinking, and occasionally pretending I knew what I was doing all along. I’m interested in tech, design, and how ideas turn into something real. I probably have a bit of a shiny object syndrome, where I start something and suddenly find myself deep into something completely different.

These days, I’m a PhD researcher, which mostly means I spend a lot of time thinking about how technology can help people see and interact with the world a bit better, especially through head mounted displays and mixed reality.

This blog is where I keep track of what I learn, the projects I start, and the ideas that never quite get realized.

Not all those who wander are lost - Tolkien

Career

2024 – Present
PhD Candidate
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
PhD research focused on using head mounted displays as assistive tools for low vision, exploring adaptive and customizable visual enhancements to improve how people see and interact with the world. Work involves shader programming, C++, and Unity development, working with devices such as the Varjo XR3 and Meta Quest, along with conducting user studies to evaluate these systems in practice.
2021 – 2023
Temporary Assistant Lecturer
University of Colombo School of Computing, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Subjects Taught: Game Development, Computer Graphics, and Strategic Management
2019 - 2020
Software Engineering Intern
Inova IT Systems, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Involved in IoT projects of the research and development team.

Projects

Research

Alleviating Low Vision through Mediated See-through Displays

Investigating the use of head-mounted displays and visual enhancement techniques to support spatial awareness and daily functioning in individuals with low vision.

Research

AR Supported Self-Help Intervention for Physiological and Psychological Acute Stress.

The study was carried out to identify the effectiveness of AR supported mindfulness and progressive muscle relaxation interventions for stress management.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-89880-9_49

Research

Prediction of Orthognathic Surgery Outcome by 3D Visualization

The research was conducted to determine a cost-effective method for predicting facial soft tissue changes following orthognathic surgery using 3D visualization

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-54053-0_11