Human Computer Interaction Laboratory

• Profile
• Key Results
• International Networking
• Impact
• Highlights

Profile

The Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCI Lab) of FORTH-ICS , established in 1989, is an internationally recognised centre of excellence, with accumulated experience in user interface software technologies, design methodologies, and software tools.

The HCI Lab develops software that supports the engineering of best-fit interaction-intensive applications for diverse users, systems, platforms, and enviromental contexts.

The Laboratory carries out leading research activities focused on developing user interfaces for interactive applications and services that are accessible, usable, and ultimately acceptable for diverse users in the Information Society.

The main line of work promotes the concept of User Interfaces for All, introduced in the international literature in the early 90s. This concept constitutes a new perspective on Human - Computer Interaction, rooted in the principles of Universal Access and Design for All. An important property of the "User Interfaces for All" objective is that it effectively puts forward a number of generic research challenges, which need to be always reflected in the context of continuous technological progress.

The research activities of the HCI Laboratory are distinctively characterised by an interdisciplinary approach. The current RTD objectives of the HCI Lab are:

• To support and facilitate the adoption and application of the principles of Design for All and Universal Access in the development of Information Society Technologies.
• To support inclusive user interaction in ambient intelligence environments.
• To support the development of universally accessible games.
• To support the provision of universally accessible and usable online communities.

The Laboratory:

• develops methodologies, software components and tools for the engineering of interaction-intensive applications that optimally suit the requirements of diverse users, platforms, and environments
• designs and develops software for a large variety of technological platforms, such as personal computers, smart environments, VR systems, hand held computers (PDAs), wearable devices, mobile phones, and portable electronic devices

The HCI Laboratory also operates the Centre for Universal Access and Assistive Technologies (CUA & AT). The main objective of the Centre is to support the equal participation and socio-economic integration of people with disabilities in the Information Society.

Prof. Constantine Stephanidis
Head

Key Results

• The development of User Interface Software Technologies supporting Universal Access.
• Methods and tools for the development of user interfaces for Ambient Intelligence Environments
• Methods and tools supporting the design and development of intelligent user interface adaptations.
• The development of a range of interaction techniques and metaphors, and related tools, to facilitate the development of accessible and user-adapted interfaces for people with sensory, motor/physical and cognitive/language impairments.
• The development of augmented environments to facilitate interpersonal communication and access to information and office applications for people with disabilities.
• The development of a number of applications for Universal Access to the World Wide Web.
• Universally accessible online communities’ infrastructures for web based communication and collaboration.
• Universally accessible computer games.
• Interaction-rich computer games and intelligent virtual worlds populated by autonomous characters.

International Networking

Aim

• Promote the principles of Universal Access and inclusive design in different application domains, such as education and training, e-health, e-government, e-commerce, etc., through networking and the corresponding outreach activities (i.e., publications, seminars, workshops, conferences).
• Play a catalytic role in consensus creation, awareness raising, information exchange, knowledge and experience sharing, and more generally, in the establishment of common objectives and momentum towards their materialization in the context of the emerging Information Society.

International networking activities

• Coordination of the ERCIM Working Group "User Interfaces for All" (1995-2006).For more information, see the leaflet about the UI4All ERCIM Workin Group.
• Coordination of the International Scientific Forum "Towards an Information Society for All" (1997-2000)
• Coordination of the EC-funded Thematic Network - Working Group "Information Society for All" (2000-2003, IST-1999-14101 IS4ALL)
• Coordination of the EC-funded Thematic Network "Design for All Network of Excellence" (2003 - 2005, IST-2001-38833 D4ALLnet)
• Participation as National Contact Centre of the "European Design for All e-Accessibility Network (EDeAN)"

Active involvement

• In the eEurope / eAccessibility Initiative of the EC and in the establishment of national measures seeking to implement the recommendations of these initiatives by member states.

Impact

International Conferences

• A new International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (UAHCI) has been established:
• the first such event, UAHCI 2001, took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 5-10 August 2001 (in cooperation with HCI International 2001).
• UAHCI 2003 was organised in Crete, Greece, 22-27 June 2003 (in cooperation with HCI International 2003).
• UAHCI 2005 was organised in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 22-27 July 2005 (in cooperation with HCI International 2005).
• UAHCI 2007 was organised in Beijing, P.R China, 22-27 July 2007 (in cooperation with HCI International 2007).
• UAHCI 2009 was organised in San Diego, California, USA, 19–24 July 2009 (in cooperation with HCI International 2009).
• UAHCI 2011 was organised in Orlando, Florida, USA, 9-14 July 2011 (in cooperation with HCI International 2011).
• UAHCI 2013 will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 21-26 July 2013 (in cooperation with HCI International 2013).

International Working Group & Workshops

• The ERCIM Working Group "User Interfaces for All" (UI4ALL) was active from the beginning of 1995 to the end of 2006 against the background of European R&D activities which had analysed the requirements, identified the viability, and demonstrated the feasibility of constructing "user interfaces for all", i.e., interfaces that address the individual user requirements of potentially all users.
• This ERCIM Working Group has regularly held a Workshop on the topic of User Interfaces for All since its establishment in 1995 (list of workshops organised ).

International Journal

• A new international, interdisciplinary refereed journal, entitled "Universal Access in the Information Society" (UAIS), published by Springer, has been established in 2001. The journal solicits original research contributions addressing the accessibility, usability, and, ultimately, acceptability of Information Society Technologies by anyone, anywhere, at anytime, and through any media and device.

Books

• An edited book entitled "User Interfaces for All: concepts, methods and tools" has been published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates in 2001. The book is dedicated to the issues of Universal Design and Universal Access in HCI.
• An edited book entitled "Universal Access in Health Telematics: A Design Code of Practice" has been published by Springer in 2005.
• An edited book entitled "The Universal Access Handbook" has been published by CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group in June 2009.

Publications

• Results of R&D work have appeared in more than 570 publications in leading archival journals, tutorials during international conferences, international encyclopaedias and books.
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Highlights

2013

• Organization of the 15th International Conference on Human - Computer Interaction (HCII2013).
• Organization of the 7th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (UAHCI).

2011

• Organization of the 14th International Conference on Human - Computer Interaction (HCII2011).
• Organization of the 6th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (UAHCI).

2009

• Organization of the 13th International Conference on Human - Computer Interaction (HCII2009).
• Organization of the 5th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (UAHCI).
• The book "The Universal Access Handbook" is published by CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.

2007

• Organization of the 4th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (UAHCI).
• Organization of the 12th International Conference on Human - Computer Interaction(HCII2007).

2006

• Successful completion of the activities of the ERCIM Working Group "User Interfaces for All" after 12 years of operation.

2005

• Organization of the 3rd International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (UAHCI).
• Annual rotating Secretary of EDeAN.
• The book "Universal Access in Health Telematics: A Design Code of Practice" is published by Springer.

2003

• Initiation of activities of the D4ALLnet support project to EdeAN
• Operationalisation of the GR-DeAN National Network.
• Organization of the 10th International Conference on Human - Computer Interaction (HCII2003).
• Organization of the 2nd International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (UAHCI).

2001

• The 1st issue of the international, interdisciplinary, refereed journal, "Universal Access in the Information Society" (UAIS) is published by Springer.
• Organization of the 1st International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (UAHCI).
• The book ""User Interfaces for All: concepts, methods and tools" is published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

2000

• Establishment of the IST Thematic Network "Information Society for All".

1997

• Establishment of the International Scientific Forum "Towards an Information Society for All".
• Development of the AVANTI Web Browser, the first, and to date the only browser designed for being universally accessible.

1996

• Development of the "Unified User Interfaces Development Framework".

1995

• Establishment of the ERCIM Working Group "User Interfaces for All".

1994

• Introduction of the "User Interfaces for All" concept.

1993

• Introduction of the principles of "Design for All" in the context of the emerging Information Society.

1991

• Development of novel Assistive Technology Applications.

1989

• Establishment of the HCI Lab.
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