Human-Computer Interaction
The research team in human-computer interaction, the youngest of nine core areas of computer science identified by ACM focuses on conceptual, computational, and usability aspects of interfaces. The researchers focus on both building interface architecture and look to facilitate and enhance the development of interactive environments. Research in this area is supported by the National Science Foundation, Microsoft, and the Office of Naval Research. The group boasts of eminent experts in this area who have been recognized by prestigious awards.
Applied Cognitive Science Lab - Lead Faculty: Professor Ritter Research in this laboratory focuses on how to improve the usability of interfaces by investigating human-computer interfaces with cognitive models. The projects are focused on models that learn, ranging from how to provide models access to interfaces to analyzing the effects of caffeine on cognition to determining how children develop through modeling their development. For more information, visit: http://acs.ist.psu.edu. Spatial Information and Intelligence Lab - Lead Faculty: Professors Cai, Fonseca, and Mitra The lab develops conceptual, computational, and usability engineering approaches toward natural, multimodal, multi-user dialogue-enabled interfaces to geographic information systems. The goal is to make distributed geographical information resources accessible to (non-expert) users and to facilitate collaborative spatial decision-making among teams. The Real-Time Aesthetics and Experience Lab - Lead Faculty: Professors Seif El-Nasr and Smith The real-time aesthetics and experience lab is engaged in several directions of research. The lab has focused on building tools that facilitate and enhance the development of interactive environments to promote a method for self expression, creativity, and engagement. In the past years, researchers in the lab have explored several research areas: Tools for building interactive 3D environments: Lighting tools to allow designers to develop lighting designs for 3D environments. Camera tools answering several research questions including 'what kind of camera movements are important for interactive environments?' and 'what kind of camera movements/positions can we learn from film?' Researchers plan to publish and demo the tool by the end of December 2006. The lab also explores the development of believable characters with personality. This work focuses on modeling archetypes by studying character models from screenwriting theory and computationally representing them, then mapping such representation to animation routines or adjustments. The group is also experimenting with physical space and lighting: The idea is to use the interactive lighting lab (Architectural Engineering) as an interactive dance space where light colors and lighting layout can change depending on the dancer's arousal state measured through physiological sensors. In other words, we are exploring the potential of using this lab as an ambient intelligent space. In addition, we are experimenting with game design tools for: Education: In this particular research direction, we looked at the use of game modding in classroom environments, including the new game design and development course, and Games for Girls' (high school extracurricular class). Visualization: This particular direction was motivated by the grant received from Lockheed Martin to look into using gaming methods for visualization and immersion. This is still an exploratory project, but has already resulted in a workshop on the process of game design which is part of Designing Interactive Systems.
