Research in Human-Computer Interaction focuses on usability evaluation of interactive applications, creating multimodal interfaces for specific user groups (e.g. children with learning difficulties), identifying usability flaws based on physiological users’ measurements, etc.
Members and associates of the Software Quality and Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory are working on the following research activities:
Usability evaluation
Laboratory methods of Usability Evaluation, using state of the art tools for eye-tracking (eye-trackers, mobile eye-trackers, eye-tracking glasses), for physiological measurements (respirators, skin conductance sensors, blood volume pulse sensors) for the formative and summative evaluation of various interactive products.
Usability interface efficiency
Evaluating and improving usability interface efficiency using the KLM-FA , a tool that carries out Keystroke Level Model symbolic calculations of the time required to fill a specific web form in a straightforward and automatic manner. KLM-FA calculates the form completion time according to different interaction strategies or users’ characteristics. In addition, Fitts’ law is computationally realized to calculate the exact time required to move the cursor to the form’s elements. Preliminary case studies illustrated the tool capability to support both designers and evaluators in an efficient and effective manner. Furthermore, the tool is used for teaching UI efficiency in various HCI courses.
A Natural User Interface for children
Kin-LDD, a computer-based game where in-game mechanics utilize Microsoft Kinect technology to provide hand gesture recognition for its interface. As children accomplish predefined tasks and they are evaluated against their cognitive abilities, the game also collects metrics for their motor skills. During the game, a series of activity screens are presented to the child and each of them is compiled by placing multimedia content, graphics audio and text, onto a pre-generated background. The goal of the game is for the child to accomplish a series of tasks based on the instructions shown on each activity screen. Kin-LDD has been successfully used to assist the diagnostic process of children with learning difficulties.
Users’ stress during interaction with the use of physiological sensors
Measurements of users stress during interaction using physiological data collected and analyzed by OpenSignals. Physiological sensors such as EDA (electrodermal activity), ECG (electrocardiography), BVP (blood-volume pulse) etc are used to gather physiological responses and evaluate the impact of various conditions to humans.
Gamification of in-classroom diagram design
Diagram⊷atic, is an environment used to gamify the in-classroom activity of designing diagrams during a lecture. Using Diagram⊷atic the professor, instead of lecturing about diagrams or showing examples of such diagrams, can design short games where the students could play by competing during the lecture. Diagram⊷atic is a complete environment offering to the professor a design application to create games and a management application. The management application is used for monitoring the games while students play, as well as to present the results to the students after the end of each game, or to evaluate these results after classroom time. The students may use the mobile application on their mobiles to practice by designing diagrams outside of the classroom, as well as to play a game during classroom time. The environment handles the communication from students’ mobiles to the professor’s applications and vice versa, while the students submit their diagrams or receive the correct ones, so to proceed to follow up games.
Educational tools
Interactive learning environments, using 3D virtual worlds to assist teaching and enhance the learning experience and gamification in learning to gamify various aspects of HCI and Software Engineering.
Human-Robot Interaction
Human-Robot Interaction, and in particular designing the user interface and the interaction for agricultural robots (Agrirobot and SAVSAR prototype robots).