Human-Computer Interaction

Humans and their tools are fundamentally entangled: the tools we design, shape back what we become as humans. The ubiquitous and pervasive presence of digital technologies in our lives, thus, rises important questions about how we design these technologies and our relationship to them, to become the humans we may want to be. 

Our research explores relationships between humans and computational artefacts in complex worlds. We have analytical and generative ambitions, i.e. we seek to design and understand the use of cutting-edge digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality or advanced Robotics within people’s lifeworlds which are shaped by the societal and environmental challenges of our time – designing alternative futures.

The interdisciplinary field of human-computer interaction (HCI) serves as our nexus. Interweaving technical expertise with perspectives from Philosophy (e.g. posthumanism), Design (from industrial to speculative) and the Social Sciences (e.g. STS), this group will oscillate between practice and theory to make scientific contributions to knowledge about the digital transformation. 

Within this topical landscape, members of this research focus have one focal area in which they have or will develop deep expertise. Equally, they effectively work across the other areas and contribute to making the whole more than the sum of its pieces. 

All members bring healthy portions of curiosity, courage and an open mind to the table, paired with a commitment to make this an enjoyable and safe place for all to do research together – to succeed and fail, certainly to learn.