The big hole in HCI research
Vassilis Kostakos
Center for Ubiquitous Computing
University of Oulu, Finland
Symposium on HCI Grand Challenges, UCL, London
12 Sep 2016
Why we are here
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HCI Grand Challenges
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HCI Grand Challenges
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HCI Grand Challenges
Challenges in HCI
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HCI Grand Challenges
(What)
Challenges in HCI
3
HCI Grand Challenges
(What)
(How)
Challenges in HCI
3
Start looking at the big picture
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HCI
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http://www.scimaps.org/detailMap/index/the_fundamental_inte_145
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http://www.mapofscience.com
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Computer
Science
http://www.mapofscience.com
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Computer
Science
Chemistry
http://www.mapofscience.com
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We lack motor themes
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We lack motor themes
Mainstream topics that are central and well-developed
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We lack motor themes
Mainstream topics that are central and well-developed
V. Kostakos. 2015. "The big hole in HCI research", Interactions, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 48-51
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27
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HCI4D/ICTD (35)
interaction design (35)
augmented reality (34)
participatory design (33)
social networks (33)
usability (33)
crowdsourcing (32)
augmented reality (0.117)
communication (0.116)
infoviz (0.115)
social networks (0.113)
awareness (0.112)
SNS (0.109)
wikis (0.106)
infoviz (24)
education (24)
learning (24)
communication (24)
TUI (23)
awareness (23)
participatory design (22)
Table 4. Summary of popular, core and backbone topics of HCI in 2004-2013.
In bold are keywords that appear in every column.
1994-2003
Stem Cell Research [1]
Figure 5. Indicative strategic diagram
from other scientific disciplines.
Quadrant II
Quadrant I
Quadrant II
Quadrant I
Quadrant III
Quadrant IV
Quadrant III
Quadrant IV
Figure 4. Strategic diagram for CHI for the period 1994-2003 (left), and 2004-2013 (right).
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22 HCI4D/ICTD
HCI4D/ICTD (35)
(35)
22
23 interaction
interaction design
design (35)
(35)
23
24 augmented
augmented reality
reality (34)
(34)
24
25 participatory
participatory design
design (33)
(33)
25
26 social
social networks
networks (33)
(33)
26
27 usability
usability (33)
(33)
27
28 crowdsourcing
crowdsourcing (32)
(32)
28
augmented reality
reality (0.117)
(0.117)
augmented
communication (0.116)
(0.116)
communication
infoviz (0.115)
(0.115)
infoviz
social networks
networks (0.113)
(0.113)
social
awareness (0.112)
(0.112)
awareness
SNS (0.109)
(0.109)
SNS
wikis (0.106)
(0.106)
wikis
infoviz (24)
(24)
infoviz
education (24)
(24)
education
learning (24)
(24)
learning
communication (24)
(24)
communication
TUI (23)
(23)
TUI
awareness (23)
(23)
awareness
participatory design
design (22)
(22)
participatory
Table 4.
4. Summary
Summary of
of popular,
popular, core
core and
and backbone
backbone topics
topics of
of HCI
HCI in
in 2004-2013.
2004-2013.
Table
In bold
bold are
are keywords
keywords that
that appear
appear in
in every
every column.
column.
In
1994-2003
Stem Cell
Cell Research
Research [1]
[1]
Stem
Figure 5. Indicative strategic diagram
from other scientific disciplines.
2004-2013
Quadrant II
II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
Quadrant
Quadrant III
III
Quadrant
Quadrant IV
IV
Quadrant
Quadrant III
III
Quadrant
Quadrant IV
IV
Quadrant
Figure 4. Strategic diagram for CHI for the period 1994-2003 (left), and 2004-2013 (right).
11
22 HCI4D/ICTD
HCI4D/ICTD (35)
(35)
22
23 interaction
interaction design
design (35)
(35)
23
24 augmented
augmented reality
reality (34)
(34)
24
25 participatory
participatory design
design (33)
(33)
25
26 social
social networks
networks (33)
(33)
26
27 usability
usability (33)
(33)
27
28 crowdsourcing
crowdsourcing (32)
(32)
28
augmented reality
reality (0.117)
(0.117)
augmented
communication (0.116)
(0.116)
communication
infoviz (0.115)
(0.115)
infoviz
social networks
networks (0.113)
(0.113)
social
awareness (0.112)
(0.112)
awareness
SNS (0.109)
(0.109)
SNS
wikis (0.106)
(0.106)
wikis
infoviz (24)
(24)
infoviz
education (24)
(24)
education
learning (24)
(24)
learning
communication (24)
(24)
communication
TUI (23)
(23)
TUI
awareness (23)
(23)
awareness
participatory design
design (22)
(22)
participatory
Table 4.
4. Summary
Summary of
of popular,
popular, core
core and
and backbone
backbone topics
topics of
of HCI
HCI in
in 2004-2013.
2004-2013.
Table
In bold
bold are
are keywords
keywords that
that appear
appear in
in every
every column.
column.
In
1994-2003
Stem Cell
Cell Research
Research [1]
[1]
Stem
Figure 5. Indicative strategic diagram
from other scientific disciplines.
2004-2013
Quadrant II
II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
Quadrant
Quadrant III
III
Quadrant
Quadrant IV
IV
Quadrant
Quadrant III
III
Quadrant
Quadrant IV
IV
Quadrant
Figure 4. Strategic diagram for CHI for the period 1994-2003 (left), and 2004-2013 (right).
11
22 HCI4D/ICTD
HCI4D/ICTD (35)
(35)
22
23 interaction
interaction design
design (35)
(35)
23
24 augmented
augmented reality
reality (34)
(34)
24
25 participatory
participatory design
design (33)
(33)
25
26 social
social networks
networks (33)
(33)
26
27 usability
usability (33)
(33)
27
28 crowdsourcing
crowdsourcing (32)
(32)
28
augmented reality
reality (0.117)
(0.117)
augmented
communication (0.116)
(0.116)
communication
infoviz (0.115)
(0.115)
infoviz
social networks
networks (0.113)
(0.113)
social
awareness (0.112)
(0.112)
awareness
SNS (0.109)
(0.109)
SNS
wikis (0.106)
(0.106)
wikis
infoviz (24)
(24)
infoviz
education (24)
(24)
education
learning (24)
(24)
learning
communication (24)
(24)
communication
TUI (23)
(23)
TUI
awareness (23)
(23)
awareness
participatory design
design (22)
(22)
participatory
Table 4.
4. Summary
Summary of
of popular,
popular, core
core and
and backbone
backbone topics
topics of
of HCI
HCI in
in 2004-2013.
2004-2013.
Table
In bold
bold are
are keywords
keywords that
that appear
appear in
in every
every column.
column.
In
1994-2003
Stem Cell
Cell Research
Research [1]
[1]
Stem
Figure 5. Indicative strategic diagram
from other scientific disciplines.
2004-2013
Quadrant II
II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
II
Quadrant
Quadrant II
Quadrant
Quadrant III
III
Quadrant
Quadrant IV
IV
Quadrant
Quadrant III
III
Quadrant
Quadrant IV
IV
Quadrant
Figure 4. Strategic diagram for CHI for the period 1994-2003 (left), and 2004-2013 (right).
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Does HCI Matter?
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Does HCI Matter?
• Can HCI demonstrate impact on society?
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Does HCI Matter?
• Can HCI demonstrate impact on society?
• Can we point to some successes and take claim?
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Does HCI Matter?
• Can HCI demonstrate impact on society?
• Can we point to some successes and take claim?
• Can we explain to kids what we do & engage with them?
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Does HCI Matter?
•
•
•
•
Can HCI demonstrate impact on society?
Can we point to some successes and take claim?
Can we explain to kids what we do & engage with them?
Will HCI survive competition for funding?
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Why are there no
large HCI consortia?
Why are there no
HCI community initiatives?
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What to do?
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What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
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What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
– Motor Themes
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What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
– Motor Themes
– Large consortia
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What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
– Motor Themes
– Large consortia
– Large projects
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What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
– Motor Themes
– Large consortia
– Large projects
– Impact on society
14
What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
– Motor Themes
– Large consortia
– Large projects
– Impact on society
14
What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
– Motor Themes
– Large consortia
– Large projects
– Impact on society
14
What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
– Motor Themes
– Large consortia
– Large projects
– Impact on society
• Change how we do research
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What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
Top-down
– Motor Themes
– Large consortia
– Large projects
– Impact on society
• Change how we do research
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What to do?
• Identify Grand Challenges
Top-down
– Motor Themes
– Large consortia
– Large projects
– Impact on society
• Change how we do research
Bottom-up
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A craftsman never blames his tools
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Tools define trades
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Scientific tools
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Scientific tools
Theory & Protocols
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Scientific tools
Theory & Protocols
Instruments
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Scientific tools
Theory & Protocols
Instruments
Software
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Scientific tools
Theory & Protocols
Instruments
Software
Datasets
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HCI lacks tools
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Tools: bottom-up impact
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Tools: bottom-up impact
Teach & educate
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Tools: bottom-up impact
Teach & educate
Communicate & collaborate
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Tools: bottom-up impact
Teach & educate
Communicate & collaborate
Replication & compatibility
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Tools for HCI research
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
– Systematic
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
– Systematic
– Documented.
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
– Systematic
– Documented.
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
– Systematic
– Documented.
• My own research focuses on one such thing:
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
– Systematic
– Documented.
• My own research focuses on one such thing:
– Instrumenting mobile devices
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
– Systematic
– Documented.
• My own research focuses on one such thing:
– Instrumenting mobile devices
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
– Systematic
– Documented.
• My own research focuses on one such thing:
– Instrumenting mobile devices
• Forget about helping designers (implications for design)
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Tools for HCI research
• What do our researchers spend time doing repeatedly?
– Let's make it easier
– Systematic
– Documented.
• My own research focuses on one such thing:
– Instrumenting mobile devices
• Forget about helping designers (implications for design)
– Try to help your fellow researcher
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Future for HCI Researchers
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*Roger Peng
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*Roger Peng
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*Roger Peng
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*Roger Peng
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Graphics
*Roger Peng
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Graphics
Algorithms
*Roger Peng
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Graphics
Algorithms
Networking
*Roger Peng
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Graphics
Algorithms
HCI
Networking
*Roger Peng
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HCI researchers’ skills:
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HCI researchers’ skills:
Prototype-driven
Market-ready
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HCI researchers’ skills:
Prototype-driven
Market-ready
Human Subjects
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HCI researchers’ skills:
Prototype-driven
Market-ready
Human Subjects
Speak to other disciplines
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Study humans to improve technology
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Study humans to improve technology
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Study humans to improve technology
Study technology to understand humans
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Study humans to improve technology
Study technology to understand humans
The end.
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