Human-Centered Systems

[Overview]   [Faculty]   [Projects]   [Courses]

Human-Centered Systems focuses on the design of interactive systems as they relate to human activities.

Faculty

James Caverlee, Assistant Professor  (Web-scale information management, distributed data-intensive systems, information retrieval, databases, and social computing)

Jin-Xiang Chai, Assistant Professor   (Computer animation, computer graphics, interaction techniques for 3D graphics, computer vision, image-based modeling and rendering, image and video processing)

Richard Furuta, Professor   (Digital libraries, hypertext systems and models, computer-human interaction, electronic publishing)

Ricardo Gutierrez-Osuna, Associate Professor  (Intelligent sensors, speech processing, face recognition, machine olfaction, neuromorphic computation, mobile robotics, pattern recognition, machine learning)

Tracy Hammond, Assistant Professor   (Sketch recognition, gesture recognition, haptics, hand-tracking, artificial intelligence, human computer interfaces)

Andruid Kerne, Associate Professor   (Recombinant knowledge spaces, interface ecosystems, augmentation of creative process, wearable affective computing | Semiotics, time-based media, social interactivity, public installation, ambient media, sensor networks, cultural databases | Information visualization, human computer interaction, visual hypertext, distributed and embedded real-time and Internet architectures, machine learning)

John Keyser, Associate Professor  (Geometric computing, graphics and visualization, simulation and modeling, and computer algebra)

Scott Schaefer, Assistant Professor  (Computer graphics, geometric modeling, scientific visualization)

Frank Shipman, Professor  (Intelligent user interfaces, hypertext, computers and education, multimedia, new media, computers and design, computer-human interaction, computer-supported cooperative work)

Tiffani Williams, Assistant Professor  (Bionformatics/Computational Biology: phylogeny, high-performance computing, optimization, performance analysis)

Projects

Center for the Study of Digital

combinFormation: Mixed-Initiative Information Composition

Cervantes Project

Graphics and Geometric Computing

Interface Ecology Lab

Libraries

Sketch Recognition

Teaching TEam Coordination with LOcation-aware Games

Visual Knowledge Builder

Walden's Paths

Courses

CSCE 436. Computer-Human Interaction. Comprehensive study of the Computer-Human Interaction (CHI) area; includes history and importance of CHI; CHI design theories; modeling of computer users and interfaces; empirical techniques for task analysis and interface design; styles of interaction and future directions of CHI including hypermedia and computer-supported collaborative work. Prerequisite: CSCE 315 or approval of instructor.

CSCE 441. Computer Graphics. Principles of interactive computer graphics; 2-D and 3-D rendering pipelines, including geometric object and view transformations, projections, hidden surface removal, and rasterization; lighting models for local and global illumination; hierarchical models of 3-D objects, systems and libraries supporting display an user interaction. Prerequisite: CSCE 211 or 221 or approval of instructor.

CSCE 489. Computers and New Media.
CSCE 689. Computers and New Media. This class investigates potential and realized impact of computers in the design of media. Examples of questions to be considered are: (1) How does storytelling change when the reader can take links? (2) What about when the "reader" plays the role of a character in the story? and more generally: (3) What characteristics of computational media are appropriate for what types of communication and stories? Thus, some of the topics we will cover include (1) effect of computers on reading and belief of information, (2) computer's impact on the author, reader, and the interaction between them, (3) computers and argumentation, and (4) interactive genres of literature. These topics will be discussed at both a conceptual and tool level. By the end of the course, you will be able to look at an existing system or design a new system with an understanding of the impact it may have on communication and storytelling. Prerequisites: Students should have a basic knowledge of computing and the humanities, and the ability to program complex systems and be able to learn new software tools on their own.

CSCE 634. Intelligent User Interfaces. Intersection of artificial intelligence and computer-human interaction: emphasis on designing and evaluating systems that learn about and adapt to their users, tasks, and environments. Prerequisites: Graduate classification and approval of instructor.

CSCE 641. Computer Graphics. Representations of 3-dimensional objects, including polyhedral objects, curved surfaces, volumetric representations and CSG models; techniques for hidden surface/edge removal and volume rendering; illumination and shading; anti-aliasing; ray tracing; radiosity; animation; practical experience with state-of-the-art graphics hardware and software. Prerequisite: CSCE 441. Cross-listed with VIZA 672.

CSCE 645. Geometric Modeling. Geometric and solid modeling concepts. Freeform curves and surfaces (Splines and Bezier) with their relational, intersectional and global mathematical properties. Parametric representation of solids, topology of closed curved surfaces, boundary concepts and Boolean/Euler operators. Construction and display of curves and surfaces, and solid models. Prerequisite: CSCE 441 and 442 or equivalent. Cross-listed with VIZA 675.

CSCE 655. Human-Centered Systems and Information. A foundation course in human centered systems and information; understanding and conceptualizing interaction; design and prototyping methodologies; evaluation frameworks; visual design using color, space, layering, and media; information structuring and visualization; animation and games; individual and team programming projects. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or CSCE 436 or 444 or approval of instructor.

CSCE 667. Collaborative Systems and Models. Collaborative systems support group activities over computer networks; emphasis on human factors, system design is different from traditional systems; overviews existing research efforts to address various design issues; state-of-the-art knowledge and how to implement collaborative applications. Prerequisites: CSCE 310 or 603, 313 or 611, a program language (C++/JAVA) and CSCE 436 or 671 or 672 or approval of instructor and graduate classification.

CSCE 671. Computer-Human Interaction. Comprehensive coverage of Computer-human Interaction (CHI) including history, importance, design theories, and future direction; modeling computer users and interfaces, empirical techniques for task analysis and interface design, and styles of interaction. Prerequisites: Graduate classification.

CSCE 672. Computer Supported Collaborative Work. Covers design, implementation and use of technical systems that support people working cooperatively; draws from the research area of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and includes current theoretical, practical, technical and social issues in CSCW and future directions of the field. Prerequisite: CSCE 671 or 610 or approval of instructor.

CSCE 689. Special Topics: Sketch Recognition. Analysis, implementation, and comparison of sketch recognition algorithms, including feature-based, vision-based, geometry-based, and timing-based recognition algorithms; examination of methods to combine results from various algorithms to improve recognition using AI techniques, such as graphical models. Students need to be proficient at object oriented programming in either Java or C++. Students should have taken some higher level computer science courses. Possible courses include artificial intelligence, user interfaces, or software engineering.