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Increasingly, we depend on technology to manage our lives and control our environments. These interactions are now so seamless that we barely notice them at all, and for that we can thank the growing field of human-computer interaction (HCI). George Mason University’s Department of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) in the College of Engineering and Computing will soon offer a concentration in this important area of study.
The department is responding to demand from students and industry with a slate of new courses that traverse HCI foundations and theories to more concrete applications of HCI methods—like prototyping and user studies. Currently under development are classes offering HCI in areas like artificial intelligence and the Internet of things, teaching students to think through problems and design for emerging technology areas.
The new HCI concentration will be available starting in 2024 to students taking 12 credits from a set of classes as they work toward their master’s in applied information technology (AIT), but these classes are available to all graduate students. In addition to traditional engineering, AIT, and computer science students, the college hopes to attract working professionals in careers related to user experience (UX) and market research who want to expand their existing skillset to keep up with changes in the field.
“We have long been strong in learning analytics and cyber security, but we now have courses allowing students to get the foundations not simply to understand what HCI is, but to provide them with the methods and techniques they can use for design, evaluation, and more,” said Vivian Genaro Motti, associate professor in IST.
According to Nora McDonald, assistant professor in IST, “The term ‘user experience’ tends to refer to technology design practice in industry, whereas HCI provides the research foundations for UX design. To be an effective UX designer or researcher, HCI foundations are essential.”
HCI is also uniquely concerned with ensuring accessible, inclusive, positive technology interactions for everyone. McDonald said, “While some technology might be accessible to the majority of people, there are some who are not served well. HCI can really be used to meet those users where they are and develop technologies that better serve them, particularly those in marginalized communities. Our technologies are designed with normative perspectives and that’s not necessarily acceptable.”