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Posted: January 2002
The Human-Computer Interaction group at the University of
British Columbia is seeking prospective graduate students
for its growing interdisciplinary HCI program. Recent new
faculty hiring and new research contracts and grants have
resulted in greatly increased research and funding opportunites
for graduate students at the Masters and Ph.D. level. Students
from a range of backgrounds are invited to contact any of
the UBC HCI faculty for more information,
and to apply to cooperating faculties in Commerce
(MIS), Computer Science,
Education, Electrical/Computer
or Mechanical Engineering,
or Psychology.
Information on UBC HCI faculty members and UBC's HCI research
and education opportunities can be found at http://www.icics.ubc.ca/hci/.
Our innovative approach to HCI education is described in the
March 2002 Interactions Special Issue on Design (http://www.acm.org/interactions/).
focus
The central focus of our program is on theory-based design
and testing of advanced interactive terchnologies. By using
cognitive, social, and perceptual science theories and methods
we create new perspectives on the interaction of human and
machine. We look at technology as a medium of communication
as well as an environment for perceptual and cognitive processes
and a tool for performing tasks. With our interdisciplinary
perspective we can more effectively explore innovative interface
approaches for real-time, immersive, attentive, and ubiquitous
computing systems. These include the design of new haptic
devices, multisensory and immersive (VR) interfaces, environments
that support cognitive processing (e.g. decision support,
knowledge management, e-learning), collaborative work and
learning spaces, and new interactive media spaces for education
and entertainment.
ICICS
Funding has recently been secured for a new Institute for
Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems (http://www.icics.ubc.ca/)
to support collaboration between Engineering, Computer Science,
Psychology, Music, Commerce, Education, Forestry and Health
with a strong focus on HCI. ICICS is organized into eight
clusters: Modeling Humans & Their Environment, Creating Human
Experience & Multimodal Interfaces, Multi-Agent Systems, Global
Information Systems, Computational Models of Complexity, New
Paradigms & Applications, System-on-a-Chip Technologies, and
Social & Behavioural Sciences. The institute also offers a
specialized Masters Degree in Software systems.
Other developments of note are the founding of a downtown
campus with industry seminars, certificates, and executive
programs, and NewMIC (www.newmic.com), a province-wide university/industry
"think tank" research house with industry and government support.
NewMIC provides a structure for collaboration and training
for industry personnel and university students as well as
time sharing on special purpose facilities such as an immersive
theatre and a large state-of-the-art usability lab.
industry
Finally, we believe that human-centred design of new technologies
plays a role in the entrepreneurial process from company inception
onwards, and can contribute to business plans and securing
investment as well as leading to innovative new products.
As a result, our program has an entrepreneurial aspect that
is supported by links with the UBC Faculty of Commerce and
e-Commerce Research Bureau. Work with early-stage startups
is facilitated by our involvement with New MIC's technology
company incubator and small business clusters, and with a
tech business plan competition run by the New Ventures BC
Association. We have a variety of research initiatives in
air traffic control, automotive telematics, immersive CAD,
collaborative media spaces, e-learning, and attentive systems
in ICICS, NewMIC, and in collaboration with SFU and industry
partners. Industry partners include international companies
such as Boeing, HRL, Immersion, Nissan, and Sun Microsystems
as well as Canadian companies such as ThoughtShare Communications
Inc., and Recombo inc. NewMIC adds to this with industry clusters
that include IBM, Nortel, Sierra Wireless, Telus, Electronic
Arts, and Sony as well as many innovative small companies.
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