The Human-Computer Interaction Group was founded in 1984 to pursue research into the design and evaluation of interactive systems. The group has a unique interdisciplinary approach which integrates rigorous formal methods from the latest software engineering research, with theories of perception, learning and error, developed within cognitive and social psychology, sociology and linguistics. The group's concern is not just with the usability of computers for the single user in isolation but also usability in the context of users' tasks and communities, as well as for groups of collaborating users, and for users with special needs, such as disabled users and operators of safety-critical systems. Much of our recent research is concerned with the user experience particularly for users of domestic technologies such as mobile phones or internet shopping.
The people
The group (see the list of members, or the list of previous members) consists primarily of researchers from the Computer Science, Electronics and Psychology Departments. Several of our members are associated with the Centre for Usable Home Technology (CUHTec).
The group is involved in funded research from: the EU (through the TMR programme), the EPSRC, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Microsoft Research labs. Active collaboration spans Europe and involves groups in Pisa, Toulouse, Cork, Paderborn, Riso, Liege, Glasgow, Lancaster, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and City University (London). The group also has strong connections with the British HCI Group.
From time to time there will be job opportunities within the group for researchers of all levels
The research
Interaction Analysis and Human Error Tolerance
How can we analyse systems in order to draw useful conclusions about user performance? If human error is unavoidable, how can we best minimise its consequences in safety-critical systems?
Multimodal Interfaces
We are exploring alternative interactive modalities such as sound and gesture. This is particularly in the context of interfaces for users with disabilities.
Communication
When does it help to see a video image of the face of the person one is talking to? What other images can we provide?
Home Technologies
We are researching usability, enjoyability and dependability issues in computing and communication products used in the home.
