Human-Computer
Interaction
Rensselaer has long had a human-computer interaction
(HCI)-related involvement with industry. Over twenty
years ago, Rensselaer was involved in an evaluation
of IBM's performance support through print documents.
Since that time, researchers at Rensselaer have conducted
research on metrics for quality in performance support
content, user performance with visual programming languages,
effectiveness of online tutorials and wizards, attentional
aspects of computer displays, and other HCI-related
projects. Through on-campus and extensive distance education
programs, many Rensselaer students have been trained
as HCI practitioners; these graduates keep in touch
with Rensselaer researchers and keep them up-to-date
on industry concerns.
The HCI Research Group was formed to extend investigation
to an even wider range of human-technology interactions,
using a broad, cross-disciplinary theoretical perspective.
The strategy of this group is to define areas of interest
where research can have an impact, use a broad range
of theory in human perception and cognition, communication,
and media to determine promising approaches and define
critical questions, and then carry out a targeted set
of studies to answer these critical questions. The HCI
Research Group will attack research problems with small,
cross-disciplinary teams, including members from communication
science, cognitive science, and computer science. Though
the group is focuses on answering basic theoretical
questions in HCI with solid research, we expect this
research to have immediate applicability to practice
that will serve the needs of the designers and manufacturers
of commercial products and devices.
Current HCI design practices are all too frequently
based on untested opinions, unverified "prior practice,"
or are simply arbitrary rules without theoretical bases.
The results of the theoretically grounded empirical
research conducted by the HCI Research Group will translate
into sound and effective design practices that will
improve the usability of a wide range of technologies
and improve the user experience when interacting with
technologies.
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Rensselaer faculty and graduate students from departments of Language, Literature, and Communication, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Electronic Arts, Management, and Science and Technology Studies conduct cross-disciplinary studies on the social and behavioral impact of information technologies. Learn more
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