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Multidisciplinary Research in HCI Engineering: Cases Studies

Ahmed Seffah, Associate Professor

Human-Centered Software Engineering Group

Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering

Concordia University, Montreal Canada

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Outlines

1. HCI Engineering: A Multidisciplinary Field

2. Multidisciplinary research – HMD– P-Tab– Bio-Use

3. Concluding Remarks

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Human Computer Interface: Today and Tomorrow

Wearable and

Immersive Computing

Mobile Computing

Handheld Computing

Web UI

Tangible, Sensing UI

Mobile UI InteractionStyle

GUI

Stationary Office Computers

Computing Platforms

BlazerJet

CardPC, GPS, GSM 'phone, a novel Pinger receiver and both the audio interface and a Jornada 420 palmtop.

Multiple User Interface, Cross-Platforms and Multi-Devices Applications [Seffah and

Javahery, Wiley and Sons 2006]

Multiple User Interface, Cross-Platforms and Multi-Devices Applications [Seffah and

Javahery, Wiley and Sons 2006]

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HCI: A Multidisciplinary Research Field

Human Computer Interaction Engineering

Task and Workflow Analysis

Interaction Devices and Styles

Design and Prototyping

Usability Testing and Empirical Studies

Cognitive Process and User Modeling

Relationships between Technology, Work, and Organization

Computer Supported Collaborative Work

Virtual Communities

Affective and Persuasive Computing

Semiotics

Communication

Education

Cognitive Psychology

Fine Arts

Commerce

Sociology

Anthropology

Computer Science

Software Engineering

Industrial Design

Human Factors Engineering

Building Engineering

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Usability: The Ultimate Goal in HCI Engineering

• Not GUI, not user friendly• Quality factor like reliability, safety,

scalability, etc. • The extent to which, a product can be

used by a set of users to achieve their tasks with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a certain context of Use [ISO-IEEE standards]

• Measurable attributes

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Human-Centered Software Engineering[Seffah, et all., Kluwer/Springer, 2005]

1. Observe, capture, and analyze observational data on human behaviors and experiences

2. Measure human performance, effectiveness, satisfaction, learnability, comprehension

3. Using these data and observations to quantify and model user and user interface

4. Extract design patterns and build conceptual proof of concepts design

5. Integrate these patterns and models into the software development practices

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HMD, P-Tab and Bio Use Projects

• Experimental frameworks • A unified environment to visualize data, complex artifacts

and phenomena

– From usability to visual comprehension– From GUIs to Tangible UI; Real objects to represent

computerized entities– From WIMP to sensing-based interaction

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HMD Project

• Digital art work by Char Davis

• Breathing and body movements as a way for exploration

• Funded by an NSERG New Media Grant

• 4 professors: HCI/Software Engineering, Graphics/Computer Science, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering

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HMD

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Bio Use

• LIMSI-Every Genepole, Bioinformatics Team

• Virtual Reality Setting to visualize factual and structural genomic data

• Biologists (Concordia, Orsay, Genepole), Bioinformatician (Dr. Gherbi), Usability/HCI (Dr. Seffah)

• Partial funds (Collaboration France/Quebec)

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Bio-Use

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PTab

• Physical table that embeds a large smart board, stereoscopic glasses, hand sensors to visualize a complex phenomena such as a design using tangible objects

• HCI/Usability (Ahmed Seffah), Digital Sounds/Image Artist (Jason Lewis)– Ecole Centrale de Lyon

• Funded Concordia SEED, NSERG, Hexagram (Arts)

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Proposed Controlled Experiments Protocol

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Concordia Usability Testing Lab

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A Demo

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Quantitative Results

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Concluding Remarks: Keys factors for multidisciplinary research

• Open mind researcher!

• Minimum knowledge and cross-disciplines terminology

• Strong management and leadership skills

• Highly qualified personnel: training and hiring

• Funds availability!

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Merci Thank you

Questions