Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience Design

Human Computer Internaction &Usability pays central attention to the design, evaluation and implementation of existing and future interactive (computer-) systems and interactive environments. Faculty members with the background of computer science, psychology, communication studies, design and information management work in the following research foci:

• Mobile Interfaces Challenges of and possible solutions to effective and innovative human-computer interaction with mobile systems and services.
• The field of intelligent and emotional interfaces studies the possibilities of enriching human interaction with different forms of "artificial" intelligence. A particular research focus is on the emotional aspect.
• Ambient interfaces are an approach to embed ICTs as an invisible yet ubiquitous component in our every-day environment. The central concern of research is to assess the effects and potentials of this invisible integration from the points of view of the user and of interaction.
• Social interfaces are a new development in the field of interface technologies which strives to facilitate social interaction between humans and computers and to create new possibilities for human interaction procedures.
• Contextual interfaces and advanced interaction technologies study alternative approaches and paradigms concerning special interaction tasks in various contexts and places of applications, for special needs in households.
• User experience methods and tools investigate methodological aspects and tools to support all phases of user-oriented development, in the research foci described above and beyond. Studies on the significance of user experience and its influential factors are to be particularly emphasized here.