University Degree Programs and Professional Training Courses

Introduction
University and Colleges
University Human-Computer Interface Research Laboratories
Commercial Training Vendors
Commercial Human-Computer Interface Research Laboratories
Special Interest Groups
Credits

Introduction

Top

The discipline of usability engineering has been an object of study and learning ever since computer technology emerged as a viable industry. Both developers and users, however, are only now recognizing the importance of usability and ergonomics within the field of Computer Science. The result of this important realization is Universities and Academic institutions developing complete programs for undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as the establishment of academic research centers specializing in Usability Engineering within the Context of Software Engineering.

Realizing that user satisfaction vis-a-vis usability engineering go hand in hand with successful software and business development, businesses and corporations have also created corporate laboratories specializing in usability engineering.

Education must take the lead to integrate the goals and methods of usability engineering into the daily life of the computer industry. This page contains URLs to web sites that span the globe and range from small universities to large corporations. The WWW pages referenced here , though far from all inclusive, are representative of the industry state of the art in usability engineering.

The URL's are organized into five categories: Colleges & Universities, Academic Research Laboratories, Commercial Training Vendors, Commercial Research Laboratories, and HCI Special Interest Groups.

Together, colleges and corporations are pointing the way forward with Usability Engineering.

University and Colleges Top

The following universities and colleges offer degree programs at the Bachelors and Masters levels in Usability Engineering or Human -Computer Interaction:

Human Computer Institute Carnegie Mellon University

The HCII at Carnegie Mellon has two major goals: first, to create world-class computing technologies which serve the real needs of people; second, to teach others how to do the same. Creation of human-serving technologies requires both a deep understanding of computing technology -- hardware and software -- as well as an understanding of how people work, play, interact with each other, and learn.

Bachelor of Science in Human-Computer Interaction DePaul University

The HCI at DePaul University is a multi-disciplinary degree program designed to study methods to improve the working relationship between humans and computers. The goal of HCI practitioners is to enable individuals to make more effective use of computers by creating better user interfaces. Reaching this goal requires designing an interface to make users' tasks as easy as possible while providing enough power to accomplish complex tasks.

Master of Science in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Georgia Institute of Technology

The GVU Center at Georgia Institute of Technology has launched a professional Master of Science in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Program, with an initial full enrollment of ten students. This degree program was recently established through a close collaboration with and among the College of Computing; the School of Psychology; and the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture

Human Factors/Ergonomics at San Jose State University San Jose State University

SJSU offers an M.S. degree in Ergonomics and Human Factors. The program currently has 50 active students. The Master's degree in Human Factors/Ergonomics includes a core of five required courses. In addition, each student completes three elective courses (to be selected by the student and his/her committee) and a Master's Thesis. Regular attendance at a bi-monthly seminar series is also expected during the first 4 semesters in the program. Members of the Advisory Board of the Silicon Valley Ergonomics Institute at San Jose State University serve as external advisors to the program.

HCI-Related Degree Programs Stanford University

There is an HCI specialization area of the Systems Qualifying Exam Students in HCI will normally take this as well as two other systems sub-areas. It is also possible to take HCI as a depth area in the qualifying exam in Artificial Intelligence, in consultation with the AI faculty. The bachelor's program in computer science does not have a requirement for a specialization area. A number of undergraduates take the human-computer interaction courses, and have completed senior projects in HCI.

UMass Lowell - HCI University of Massachusetts - Lowell

The Graduate Certificate in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) at the University of Massachusetts is a response to increased demand from local industry for skilled HCI specialists -- and demand from local software professionals who want to upgrade their skills and knowledge in HCI. The Graduate Certificate in Human-Computer Interaction requires students to take four courses (12 credits). Three of the courses constitute the core of the program, which is required of all students. The core includes a survey course called Human-Computer Interaction, a methods course called Evaluation of Human-Computer Interaction, and a theory course called Software Design in Context. In addition to the core, students must take one approved elective.

The University of Toronto's Human Computer Interaction (HCI) University of Toronto

The University of Toronto's Human Computer Interaction (HCI) group is part of the Dynamic Graphics Project (DGP) within the Department of Computer Science (DCS) and the Computer Systems Research Institute (CSRI). It consists of approximately thirty student, visitor, post doctorate and staff participants working under the direction of Ron Baecker, Bill Buxton and Marilyn Mantei.

Department of Biomedical and Human Factors Engineering Wright State University

The title of the department uniquely characterizes Wright State University's Department of Biomedical and Human Factors Engineering. It is the only academic program, nationally, that shares biomedical and human factors engineering as a common mission.

MSc Human-Computer Systems De Montfort University, UK

This course enables computer scientists to specialise in the areas of human- computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI), within the context of distributed, Internet-based computing.

University Human-Computer Interface Research Laboratories Top

The following universities and colleges have established laboratories to conduct research in the field of Usability Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, and Computer Ergonomics:

Georgia Tech GVU Georgia Tech

The center's activities and infrastructure are supported by the Georgia Research Alliance, the State of Georgia, NSF, Georgia Tech, and a strong Industrial Affiliates program.

MIT Media Lab Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT's Media Laboratory, founded in 1985, carries on advanced research into a broad range of information technologies including digital television, holographic imaging, computer music, computer vision, electronic publishing, artificial intelligence, human/machine interface design, and education-related technologies.

Computing, ORganizations, Policy, and Society University of California at Irvine

The internationally known CORPS program examines computerization as a social and technical process. CORPS researchers have been especially concerned with understanding the "reality" of computerization, adopting a critical stance towards computerization and computer technologies. This work has lead to a distinctive conceptual approach -- the "Irvine school" of analysis.

The Center for Lifelong Learning and Design (L3D) University of Colorado at Boulder

The Center for Lifelong Learning and Design (L3D) is part of the Department of Computer Science and the Institute of Cognitive Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The mission of the center is to establish, both by theoretical work and by building prototype systems, the scientific foundations for the construction of intelligent systems that serve as amplifiers of human capabilities.

Human-Computer Cooperative Problem Solving Lab University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Hiccups is an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Illinois. They explore the theory, design, implementation, and evaluation of intelligent software systems for human use in complex, dynamic environments. Our interests relate to cognitive engineering, intelligent tutoring and associate systems, human-computer interaction, human factors, human machine systems, and computer supported cooperative work.

University of Maryland HCI Lab The University of Maryland

The Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCIL) founded in 1983 is an interdisciplinary effort within the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies . The main participants are faculty, staff, and students from the Department of Computer Science, Department of Psychology, and College of Library and Information Services at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

Human-Computer Interaction Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln The University of Nebraska

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln is involved in research on usability, interactive system development, and graphics, students have the opportunity for involvement in a wide range of HCI issues.

Human-Technology Interaction Center University of Oklahoma

The mission of the Human-Technology Interaction Center at the University of Oklahoma is to establish and maintain a non-profit interdisciplinary organization of research scholars and scientists at the leading edge of inquiry on the interaction of people with modern technologies. The HTI Center will facilitate and advance basic research, applied research, training, and development efforts. In addition, the HTI Center recognizes as part of its mission the critical service and advisory roles it can play for government, business, and industry, and the training role it plays preparing new scholars and scientists capable of meeting the needs of the next millennium.

Interactive Systems Group University of Oregon

The demand for better understanding of this problem has stimulated the creation of a research program and associated laboratories at the University of Oregon. The Interactive Systems Group provides a valuable resource to the computer industrial community, the University, and the Computer and Information Science Department.

Computer Systems Research Institute (CSRI) University of Ontario

The University of Toronto's Human Computer Interaction (HCI) group is part of the Dynamic Graphics Project (DGP) within the Department of Computer Science (DCS) and the Computer Systems Research Institute (CSRI). It consists of approximately thirty student, visitor, post doctorate and staff participants working under the direction of Ron Baecker, Bill Buxton and Marilyn Mantei.

Virginia Tech HCI Interaction Institute Virginia Tech

The Center for Human-Computer Interaction facilitates interdisciplinary faculty interaction, and helps focus and coordinate research and service projects throughout the university and the wider community in the broad research area of human-computer interaction.

Commercial Training Vendors Top

The following commercial training vendors offer courses and program of instruction in the areas of Human-Computer interaction, Graphical User Interface (GUI) design and Usability Engineering:

*( neither the University of Maryland, nor the maintainers of this web page provide any type of recommendation on these companies. They are listed only as a resource of vendors who provide training. If you are interested in this training, please contact the vendors to obtain more information)

Advanced Interface Group AIG, Inc.

The Advanced Interfaces Group was founded in 1991 to study the problems of designing and building large scale virtual environment software systems to support real-world applications. These pages describe their work.

Enterprise Services - Training Bluestone Software

As the creator of EIM, Bluestone Software is uniquely qualified to provide comprehensive training for Sapphire/Web, Java and supporting Web technologies.

TUI/GUI Application Developer Course Bridgewater Consultants, Inc

Bridgewater Consultants, Inc. is a company specializing in Rapid Application Development (RAD) for Client Server, Internet, and traditional information systems.

GUI Design Workshop Classic System Solutions, Inc.

GUI Design Workshop. In this workshop you'll create successful interfaces from user requirements. Use new modeling techniques for architecting complex interfaces. Create and implement in-house GUI standards.

Graphical User Interface Design Code Works, Inc

CodeWorks is a consulting company specializing in GUI Design and Object Oriented technologies. Founded in 1990, they have assisted many clients in the transition to new technologies. With Fortune 500 clientele from a broad range of industries including banking, insurance, oil, and merchandising, CodeWorks employees are seasoned in the challenges of providing superior solutions through technology.

Human Computer Interaction: Interactive Systems Design (S202) The Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE)

This course introduces the techniques of interactive systems design (ISD) and the philosophy of user centered design. The course provides students with the skills needed to assign and implement interactive systems, and helps them appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of ISD. Students are also introduced to current languages and tools for ISD.

Win32 GUI Programming Learning Tree International

Learning Tree offers training to create professional graphical user interfaces (GUIs), third-party tools for rapid Java GUI development, building interfaces with advanced Swing components and AWT layout managers, and to enhance interfaces with animation.

Outsource Laboratories Training Outsource Laboratories

Outsource Laboratories provides hands on, technical training in the latest Internet technologies. Courses are taught at their central New Jersey and Rockville, Maryland locations or delivered on-site.

Commercial Human-Computer Interface Research Laboratories Top

The following commercial businesses have established laboratories to conduct research in the field of Usability Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, and Computer Ergonomics:

IBM Research IBM

Learn the fundamentals of user interface design and the different methods of interacting with a computer. Learn how to create a web site that is easy to use and communicates effectively.

Interval Interval Research Corporation

Interval Research Corporation is a laboratory that explores basic technological innovations with widespread impact. Founded in 1992 by computer visionary and investor Paul Allen and Silicon Valley veteran David Liddle, Interval is framing issues, mapping out concepts, and creating technology that will matter in the future.

Microsoft Research Microsoft

The User Interfaces group is exploring the nature of these new interfaces, a number of the key underlying technologies, and selected applications of these technologies.

Mitsubishi Electronics Research Lab (MERL) Mitsubishi Electronics, Ltd

Human-computer interaction issues arise in almost all of the applications-oriented research projects at MERL. The projects listed at this URL are those in which user-interface issues dominate.

Xerox PARC Xerox, Inc.

In 1970, Xerox Corporation gathered together a team of world class researchers and gave them the mission of creating "the architecture of information." The scientists of the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) lived up to this challenge by inventing personal distributed computing, graphical user interfaces, the first commercial mouse, bit-mapped displays, Ethernet, client/ server architecture, object-oriented programming, laser printing and many of the basic protocols of the Internet.

Special Interest Groups Providing Seminars and Conferences Top

The following Special Interest Groups conduct meetings and sponsor conferences and seminars where Usability Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction is the focus of the group:

BayCHI San Francisco, CA SIGCHI

BayCHI is the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI). They hold monthly meetings at Xerox PARC in Palo Alto. The meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Doors are open at 7:00 p.m. for coffee and mingling in the lobby.

Welcome to the IICS International Interactive Communications Society

Since its founding in 1983, the IICS has dedicated itself to the advancement of interactive systems and the people who produce them. Their members come from a wide variety of multimedia-related fields and applications: writers, artists, programmers, musicians, videographers, managers, executives, trainers, gamers, educators, marketers, and independent consultants.

Software Ergonomics Swiss Informaticians Society SIGCHI

Special interest group of the Swiss Informaticians Society (SI) and the Swiss chapter of SIGCHI.

Toronto Regional Computer Human Interaction Toronto, Canada SIGCHI

The Toronto Region's special interest group on Computer-Human Interaction (ToRCHI) is the first Canadian local chapter of the ACM's special interest group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI). This chapter has members in Toronto, Guelph, Waterloo, St. Catharines, Peterborough, and other nearby locations in Ontario.

Tri CHI Triangle Park, NC SIGCHI

TriCHI is the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, area chapter of the ACM's special interest group (SIG) on Computer-Human Interaction (CHI).

Credits Top

This page was created by:

mnsngsam@erols.com

tmalone@polaris.umuc.edu

JGPlatts@aol.com

junderco@polaris.umuc.edu

This page was last modified on 12/03/98