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Call for Participation

CHI'95 Basic Research Symposium on Human-Computer Interaction

Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7

Deadline for papers: February 1st, 1995

A two day Research Symposium will be held prior to the official CHI '95 conference, Saturday and Sunday May 6-7, 1995. The intent of the Symposium is to provide an interactive forum to promote and enhance scientific discussions of developing research issues.

The Research Symposium is designed to complement other parts of the CHI '95 Conference, e.g., the Papers program, Design Briefings, Demonstrations, Videos, Panels, Posters, and Exhibits. The theme for CHI '95 is the "Mosaic of Creativity." As different materials are used to create a mosaic, too, different groups of the Human- Computer Interaction community come together to represent the state of the art in their field at the annual CHI conference. The Symposium is for active researchers in Human-Computer Interaction.

Those attending the Symposium will be given the opportunity to enter into extensive dialogue with a community of peers. The Symposium will provide both an opportunity for feedback on one's research ideas, as well as a chance to learn about the variety of perspectives present in the international research community. The Symposium is designed to stress research and interaction among the attendees, and to promote understanding, asking of questions, dialogue between fellow researchers, and reflection on methods and results, etc.

To enhance this, the Symposium will alternate between plenary sessions with presentation of interesting, enlightening, even provoking research issues, with follow-up discussions and smaller focused discussion groups with short talk presentations (10-15 minutes) and intense dialogue among participants. Organization of the talk sessions will depend on the general topics addressed by submissions.

For the Research Symposium we have suggested a set of topics for you to consider; however, submissions may address any HCI topic of your choosing. We also encourage researchers who work with the scenario approach to bring their scenarios into the Symposium.

Designing for Diversity

Historically the HCI community has designed for restricted populations. Increased access to computing and the broadening of application areas now means that we are designing and developing technology and interactions for a much larger and more diverse population. The integration and development of new technologies, such as the computing and telecommunications technologies being used for interactive entertainment, have also extended the media available for human-machine interaction to a larger population. How do new product and method designs reflect this diversity?

Participatory Design

Participatory design techniques are increasingly gaining recognition. The approaches have, at their core, the involvement of workers in the design and development of new technologies and work practices. Collaborative design projects combine the skills and knowledge of workers who will use, or are using the technology, with the technological and organizational expertise of those involved in its development. How is participatory design influencing more traditional HCI tools, products, methods, and approaches?

Human-Computer Interface Frontiers

At the present time, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, networks, computer graphics, and multimedia dictate the future of the interface. What are the methodologies that will facilitate HCI researchers to work at the frontiers of technology and beyond (e.g. techniques using performance art, the art of the screen, etc.)? What tools will be used to design these interfaces?

Methodologies to Cope with Complexity

There is a resurgence of interest in trying to understand and model complexity in diverse areas such as the natural sciences, economics, societal interactions, engineering, and artificial intelligence. What may the HCI research community learn from these research efforts, and how do we deal with complexity in our own research?

Understanding and Modelling Creative Processes

The role of the computer is rapidly changing from a labor saving device to an "intelligent" machine that enhances and extends human creativity. One of the challenges for HCI researchers is: Do we understand the processes of creativity sufficiently to incorporate them into our research methodologies?

Enhancing Interaction

Gesturing, auditory techniques, and pen-based interactions can add value to an interface. Similarly, with the development of tele- technologies, collaboration among geographically separated interactors is increasingly becoming possible. But what do HCI researchers really know about interaction, about communication, and about collaboration? Where do we go from here?

Ethnomethodology

Anthropology has provided us with methodologies that document and analyze individual behavior and interactions within and between societal groups. Researchers within the HCI field have applied and adapted these methods to human behavior and interactions with machines. How do they relate to research traditions in the human sciences for both qualitative and quantitative methods?

Learning

With the introduction of adaptive and adaptable user interfaces, software has changed character from providing tools for activities in work situations and non-work environments to also providing media and tools to support learning for various levels of cognition and skills. Do we know enough about learning to design software to support its users, not only in learning about the applications area, but also in learning about the software usage?

Visualization, Graphics Design, and Aesthetics

Visualization of information is a growing area of research, particularly as the information superhighway expands. Graphics design, animation, and aesthetics are all key components of visualization. To make better use of the vast array of information that is becoming available daily, visualization techniques will play an increasingly important role. What will happen to the display of information as well as visualization techniques in the future?

Multimedia Systems

A lot of software systems today combine text, sound, animation, graphics, live video, and "hyperlinks". How will this shape the future of interface design and the future of the tools and methods that support interface design?

Communication, Cooperation, and the Internet

The exponential growth of the Internet over the last year has increased the general public's awareness about the potential of net-based information services. Public-domain systems like World-Wide-Web Mosaic and the CU-SeeMe video-conferencing system have opened up a new world for a lot of users. Additionally, the volume of information to be managed is large. This gives rise to a new set of research questions. How do we study net-based user behavior? How do we best design systems that enhance decentralized cooperation and communication? What theoretical frameworks are best suited to analyze user behavior and design processes in this domain?

Procedures for application to the Research Symposium

Those interested in participating in the Research Symposium are asked to submit a two page position paper that summarizes current research. Submissions longer than two pages will not be reviewed. To facilitate informal discussion, the Research Symposium will be limited to no more than 70 participants.

The position papers should address a single research theme. You may submit more than one paper, if desired. The accepted papers will be the basis for the organization of the Symposium, particularly the smaller discussion groups. Include references to a maximum of 5 of your own research publications, as well as full contact information (e-mail address and conventional address). Submissions will be reviewed by the organizing committee.

Submissions should be in electronic form and adhere to the standard CHI '95 paper format. You must submit both the CHI '95 cover sheet and planning sheet with your position paper.

Please note that basic A/V equipment will be provided for use during the presentations, i.e., overhead projector, slide projector, VCR, and a standard MAC. Special equipment needs may not be able to be met, but we will do our best to try to accommodate any requests.

Finalized publication-ready research summaries will be requested shortly after notification of acceptance. It is expected that these summaries will be the same as the two page position paper save minor changes. All position papers will be electronically distributed to all attendees prior to the Symposium. Additionally, we hope to produce a paperbound version of these position papers to be distributed to attendees at the Symposium.

Contact Information

To submit your two page position paper by electronic mail or for more information on the CHI '95 Research Symposium contact the CHI '95 Research Symposium Co-chairs: chi95-research-symposium@sigchi.acm.org 

Janni Nielsen
Co-chair, CHI '95 Research Symposium
Copenhagen Business School
Institute of Informatics and Management Accounting
Howitzvej 60
DK 2000 Copenhagen F
Denmark
Tel:  +45 3815 2400
Fax:  +45 3815 2401

Cathleen Wharton
Co-chair, CHI '95 Research Symposium
U S WEST Advanced Technologies
Applied Research and Multimedia Services
4001 Discovery Drive
Boulder, CO  80303   USA
Tel:  +1-303-541-6292
Fax:  +1-303-541-6441

Important Dates

Two page research summaries due: Wednesday, February 1st, 1995

Notification of acceptance: Friday, March 10th, 1995

Final version of research summaries due: Monday, April 10, 1995

Symposium Information

The Research Symposium will be held at the main CHI '95 conference complex in Denver. Registration fees for the two day Symposium are $100.00 (U.S.) per participant, to be paid after acceptance to the Symposium. Participants do not have to register for the main conference in order to attend the Research Symposium. The administrative arrangements for the Symposium will be done electronically.

Organizing Committee

Keith Instone / instone@acm.org / 95-01-05