TC 13 - Human-Computer Interaction - Aims and Scopes

est. 1989

 

AIMS

 

To encourage development towards a science and a technology of human-computer interaction, the Technical Committee will pursue the following Aims:

 

 

·       to encourage empirical research (using valid and reliable methodology, with studies of the methods themselves where necessary);

·       to promote the use of knowledge and methods from the human sciences in both design and evaluation of computer systems;

·       to promote better understanding of the relation between formal design methods and system usability and acceptability;

·       to develop guidelines, models and methods by which designers may be able to provide better human-oriented computer systems;

·       to co-operate with other groups, inside and outside IFIP, so as to promote user-orientation and "humani-zation" in system design. 

 

SCOPES

 

The main orientation is toward the users, especially the non-computer-professional users, and how to improve the human-computer relationship for them.

Areas of study include:

 

·       the problems people have with computers;

·       the impact of computers upon people in both individual and organizational contexts;

·       the determinants of utility, usability and acceptability;

·       the appropriate allocation of tasks between computers and people;

·       modelling the user as an aid to better system design;

·       harmonising the computer to the characteristics and needs of the user.

 

While the Scope is thus set wide, with a tendency towards general principles rather than particular systems, it is recognised that progress will only be achieved through both general studies to advance theoretical understanding and specific studies on practical issues (e.g. interface design standards, software system consistency; documentation, appropriateness of alternative communication media, human factors guidelines for dialogue design, the problems of integrating multi-media systems to match user needs and organizational practices etc.). 


 

WG13.1 - HCI Education
est. 1990, revised 1991, 2024

 

The focus of Working Group 13.1 is to advance global HCI education by integrating emerging technologies, embedding HCI into diverse curricula, supporting pedagogical research, and championing social responsibility in HCI teaching and learning.

 

 

AIMS

 

·       To improve HCI education globally, at all levels, and in all relevant disciplines of higher education.

·       To promote the integration of HCI Education in related curricula and educational policies.

·       To promote both local and global views of HCI Education challenges and perspectives.

·       To collaborate with professional organisations for HCI curricula development and lifelong learning and HCI.

·       To foster research on pedagogical approaches for HCI teaching and learning.

·       To foster research on the impact of emerging technologies on HCI teaching and learning.

·       To promote social responsibility, including ethics, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in HCI education.

·       To democratise access to best practices and experiences addressing pedagogical approaches, emerging topics and technologies, and social responsibility in HCI Education.

 

 

SCOPES

 

The scope of the Working Group will build upon existing work in IFIP member countries to include:

 

·       The exchange between HCI Education in the curricula of similar or complementary disciplines such as industrial design, psychology, cognitive sciences, user-experience design, media and communication, etc.

 

·       The exchange between HCI Education and related computer and system sciences and engineering, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, etc.

 

·       The role of HCI at all levels of education, including primary and secondary education.

·       The evaluation of the needs of the industry to promote new skills and knowledge in HCI Education.

 

·       The evaluation of the impact of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, extended realities, embodied technology, etc., on HCI Education.

 

·       Dissemination of responsible and sustainable HCI practices on HCI Education aimed at positively impacting society and the global environment.

 


 

SIG13.1 - Interaction Design and International Development
est. 2008, migrated to WG 13.8 in 2014


 

WG13.2 - Methodologies for User-Centered Systems Design
est. 1992

 

AIMS

 

The principal objective of the Working Group will be:

 

·       to foster research, dissemination of information and good practice in the methodical application of HCI to software engineering.

 

This objective decomposes into two sub-goals:

 

·       to encourage research into and development of HCI principles, methods and techniques applied to system design and integrated with principles, methods and tools in software engineering, and

 

·       to encourage research into human action within the system development process and to promote knowledge transfer from such studies into the construction of integrated HCI-SE design methods. 

 

SCOPES

 

·       evaluation and synthesis of HCI specification and design methods;

 

·       implications of cognitive psychology for the design of human-computer interfaces;

 

·       evaluation and study of different approaches to design delivery:
cognitive models, design rationales, task artifact cycles, engineering principles, development methods;

 

·       methods and techniques of human factors in software engineering as practised in industrial environments;

 

·       human behaviour in software development, i.e. cognitive studies of software engineering;

 

·       cooperative work techniques applied to software development. 

 


 

SIG13.2 - Interaction Design and International Development
est. 2009, migrated to WG 13.9 in 2014


 

WG13.3 – Human Computer Interaction, Disability and Aging
est. 1992, revised 1994, 2001

 

AIMS

The principal objectives of the Working Group will be:

 

·       to make HCI designers aware of the needs of people with disabilities;

 

·       to recommend guidelines for the design of HCI to facilitate the use of computers by people with disabilities;

 

·       to monitor the latest developments in the design of HCI and their impact on accessibility and usability;

 

·       to encourage the development of information systems and complementary tools which permit the adaptation of the human interface for each specific user. 

 

SCOPES

There are over 500 million people with disabilities in the world. Social exclusion and many other problems often result from their situation. It is recognised that developments in IT/HCI can often help with problems, for example to maximise choice and integration. However, there is also a danger that such developments can lead to the further exclusion of this user group if they are not designed from the beginning with universal access as an aim.

Working Group 13.3 intends to make designers of information systems and complementary tools aware of the needs of this group in order to encourage the development of more appropriate tools for access and usability. As a result, systems will become universally accessible, and the market for them will increase.

Specifically the scope of WG13.3 will include the following activities:

 

·       coordination and exchange of information with other relevant bodies;

 

·       collaboration with institutions interested in this field of HCI and disability;

 

·       focused HCI orientation to enable people with disabilities to use information systems and complementary tools for positive advantage.

 


 

WG13.4 - (joint with WG2.7; see TC2)
est. 1975, revised 1987, 1991


 

WG13.5 – Human Error, Resilience, Reliability, Safety and System Development
est. 1998, revised 2014, 2024

 

The focus of Working Group 13.5 is human-computer interaction in safety-critical contexts.

 

 

AIMS

This working group aims to support practitioners, regulators, and researchers to develop leading edge techniques in hazard analysis and the safety engineering of computer-based systems. Particular emphasis will be on (1) understanding and addressing the role of human error in the development and operation of complex processes and on (2) identifying methods, techniques, and tools that can be easily integrated into existing interactive system engineering practices. Specifically, the aims are:

 

·       to provide a framework for studying human factors related to systems dependability to forecast, prevent, and mitigate failures, e.g., through improved system design as well as improved operator training.

 

·       to provide a forum for practitioners, regulators and researchers to discuss the ‘human contribution’ to major accidents and incidents.

 

·       to identify leading edge methods, techniques, and tools for developing safety-critical interactive systems, and to integrate them with existing systems engineering practices.

 

·       to support and guide international accreditation activities in the area of safety- critical interactive systems.

 

SCOPES

To build on existing work in IFIP member countries in the following areas:

 

·       techniques for analysing human, managerial, and organisational factors that contribute to the occurrence of incidents and accidents.

 

·       integrating human factors considerations into risk assessments and systems engineering techniques for developing interactive safety-critical systems.

 

·       the ergonomics, usability, and user experience of human-computer interaction with interactive safety-critical applications.

 

·       the role of human error both in the development and in the operation of complex processes.

 

·       the prevention of human error through novel digital training approaches that can improve operators’ performance and well-being.

 


 

WG13.6 - Human-Work Interaction Design
est. 2005

 

AIMS

The aims of the HWID working group are:

 

·       To encourage empirical studies and conceptualisations of the interaction among humans, their variegated social contexts and the technology they use both within and across these contexts.

 

·       Promote the use  of knowledge, concepts, methods and techniques that enables user studies to procure a better apprehension of the complex interplay between individual, social and organisational contexts and thereby a better understanding of how and why people work in the ways they do.

 

·       Promote a better understanding of the relationship between work-domain based empirical studies and iterative design of prototypes and new technologies.

 

·       Establish a network of researchers, practitioners and domain/subject matter experts working within this field.

 

Thus on an overall level the working group aims at establishing relationships between extensive empirical work-domain studies and HCI design.

 

SCOPES

To provide the basis for an improved cross-disciplinary co-operation and mutual inspiration among researchers, but it will also lead to a number of new research initiatives and developments, as well as to an increased awareness of HWID in existing HCI educations. Complexity will be a key notion in the working group, it is not a priori defined or limited to any particular domains. A main target of the work group is the analysis of and the design for the variety of complex work and life contexts found in different business.
Technology is changing human life and work contexts in numerous, multi-faceted ways:

 

·       Interfaces between collaborating individuals; advanced communication networks

 

·       Small and large-scale distributed systems

 

·       Multimedia and embedded technologies

 

·       Mobile technologies and advanced "intelligent" robots

 

·       With this evolution, toward new ways of working, has followed an intensive demand for techniques and technologies that  address contemporary issues connected to:

 

·       Communication, collaboration, and problem solving

 

·       Large information spaces, variability, discretion, learning, and information seeking

 

This evolution toward new ways of working and living must be embraced as a challenge to current knowledge and practice and one, moreover, which presents exciting new opportunities in:

·       Epistemology, with knowledge acquisition, knowledge creation, management and knowledge sharing

 

·       The symbiosis of users and contexts of use, between work and life-quality and with both professional and individual development.

 

It is a challenge to design applications that support users of technology in complex and emergent organisational and work contexts, and thus opportunities exist to focus on methods, theories, tools, techniques and prototype design on an experimental basis.
Under these circumstances, the primary question is less whether we choose to study the use of a particular computer application or prefer, instead, to conduct bottom up empirical experiments of work contexts. The new problem is how we can understand, conceptualise and design for the complex and emergent contexts in which human life and work are now embroiled. This problem calls for cross disciplinary, empirical and theoretical approaches that focus on Human-Work Interaction Design, meaning that the technology itself and particularly the design and use of technologies mediates the interaction between humans and specific work contexts.  


 

WG13.7 – Human - Computer Interaction & Visualization (HCIV)
est. 2008

 

AIMS

·       To establish a study and research program that will combine both scientific work and practical applications in the fields of Human – Computer Interaction and Visualization.

 

·       To promote the development of “effective” visualizations that benefit from the capabilities and functionalities of the human visual system, e.g. visual perception and other cognitive abilities.

 

·       To promote the development of practical applications, e.g. in engineering, which benefit from the newly developed concepts and which provide the necessary fields for evaluation.

 

·       To integrate several additional aspects of further research areas, such as Scientific Visualization, Data mining, Information Design, Computer Graphics, Cognition Sciences, Perception Theory, or Psychology, into this approach.

 

Thus the WG will provide a creative work environment for performing innovative research at the interface between Human – Computer Interaction and Visualization.


WG13.8 – Interaction Design and Children
est. 2008, migrated from SIG 13.1 2014, revised 2015

 

AIMS and SCOPES

·       To support and develop the research, practice and education capabilities of HCI in institutions and organisations based around the world taking into account their diverse local needs and cultural perspectives;

 

·       To promote application of interaction design research, practice and education to address the needs, desires and aspirations of people across the developing world;

 

·       To research and promote interaction design practice in cross-cultural settings, with a special focus on new and emerging economies;

 

·       To develop links between the HCI community in general and other relevant communities involved in international development and cross-cultured aspects of ICT development.

 


 

WG13.9 – Interaction Design and Children
est. 2013

 

The focus of the work within Working Group 13.9 is on promoting high quality coordinated research in child computer interaction and in interaction design with children.

 

AIMS

This working group aims to support practitioners, regulators and researchers to develop the study of interaction design and children across international contexts.  Specifically it will seek – as a working group – to develop a mature tested set of methods and practices that this academic and practitioner base can use. It will aim:

·       To promote high quality research in child computer interaction and in interaction design with children

 

·       To provide an accessible international forum and information site for researchers interested in HCI and Interaction
Design where the users are children

 

·       To coordinate and manage events for IDC researchers and practitioners including, but not limited to, the annual IDC conference and the IDC workshops.

 

SCOPES

To build on existing work in IFIP member countries in the following areas:

 

·       The development and refinement of methods for engaging with children in the design of interactive technologies

 

·       The development and refinement of methods for engaging with children in the evaluation of interactive technologies

 

·       The role of children as participants in Interaction Design

 

·       Designing for children from all cultures, with all abilities, talents and economics.

 


 

WG13.10 – Human-Centered Technology for Sustainability
est. 2015

 

AIMS  

This Working Group Aims:

 

·       to promote research, design, development, evaluation of human-centred technology to encourage sustainable use of resources in various domains. These technologies would include interaction techniques, interfaces and visualizations for applications, tools, games, services and devices.

·       to bring together and stimulate exchanges between, researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers from across different disciplines involved in sustainability through regular events. These disciplines would include computer science, engineering, design, social sciences, etc.

·       to coordinate publication and dissemination of related research output, information, policies, etc.

 


 

WG13.11/12.14 – Human-Centered Intelligent Interactive Systems (HCIS)
est. 2023

 

WG 13.11/12.14 is about the connection between people, artificial intelligence (AI) and human-computer interaction (HCI) and to advance science and insights in both fields for the benefit of society.

AI and machine learning have become the foundation for computing systems. Intelligent interactive systems directly impact humans and their relationship with data, information, and smart environments. Moving towards automated and autonomous systems will consequently change the user experience and the relationship to digital technologies on an individual as well as on a societal level.

Designing and implementing such systems pose new challenges and require new approaches in HCI. New opportunities for the design of user interfaces and interaction metaphors arise and concepts and models for interactive systems will change. On a more abstract level, new dimensions need to be considered, including new ethical aspects and human-centered development.

As a community, we need to find ways for humans to understand AI-based systems and means to allow human control and oversight.

 

AIMS

WG 13.11/12.14 aims to focus on how AI can empower humans and support their endeavours, as well as to find ways for humans to understand AI-based systems and the means to allow human control and oversight. The emphasis is on the human side of the interaction between people and AI. To reach this goal, an operation under both TC13 (HCI) and TC12 (AI) will allow for both research and to develop the scientific foundations for Human-Centered Intelligent Interactive Systems. Such foundations include methods, models and algorithms for constructing and evaluating these systems.

SCOPES

Currently many applications are not focusing on people; they are not human-centered. Ensuring meaningful human interaction with AI is the key to the mass adoption of intelligent technologies. In the next years, the role of HCI in the conception, design, and implementation of applications of AI will be defined. The relationship between researchers and developers in AI and HCI is becoming essential to create real values for humans. Advancing intelligent interactive systems needs skills and insights from both disciplines. Many properties, such as understandability, reliability, trustworthiness, and safety, cannot be considered without a deep understanding of the user experience and the interaction angle.

Specific topics of interest are:

·       Methods for human-centered design of intelligent systems.

·       Interactive machine learning.

·       Human-centered interactive AI.

·       Data-driven user modeling and personalization.

·       Interactive recommender systems.

·       Joint control between humans and intelligent agents.

·       User trust in autonomous and intelligent systems.

·       Interaction metaphors for collaboration with AI-based Systems.

·       Design and evaluation of intelligent user interfaces.

·       Ethical aspects of intelligent systems.

·       Interactive and explainable AI.

·       Human-robot interaction.

·       AI in Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).

·       Multimodality in intelligent systems.

·       Interactive application of intelligent systems.