Northwestern's Center for Human Computer Interaction + Design

Design Cluster Dinner? ??? Sign us up! Last Thursday, our co-director Liz Gerber (she/her) hosted a Design Research Cluster dinner at her home. There, members of the cluster engaged in fruitful, interdisciplinary conversations focused on understanding and designing the relationships between humans and technology in highly complex situations, all while enjoying a delicious dinner! Thank you, Liz, for opening up your home to create room for these essential conversations! If you wish to learn more about the Design Research Cluster, click this link: https://lnkd.in/dCp_3p8n.

If you happened to miss our previous post, last Saturday, after Den Theater's "Coronation," one of our co-directors, Liz Gerber (she/her), had the incredible opportunity to discuss the future of AI with the audience! ?? She shared powerful insights on embodied AI assistants' opportunities and challenges in home and workplace environments, and dove deep into AI's transformative potential in healthcare, education, and manufacturing while addressing crucial concerns around AI ethics, privacy, and responsible development. Liz emphasized the importance of systems thinking in AI development – a holistic approach that ensures we build intelligent systems that are both effective and ethically aligned with human values. ?? ?? As we explore the intersection of technology, responsibility, and human experience, do any questions come up regarding this new era? #AI #EmbodiedAI #ResponsibleAI #humancomputerinteractionanddesign

Congratulations Calvin Liang!

Do you know someone who is interested in becoming a top researcher in technology, social behavior, and design? Our students go on to amazing jobs at places like University of Michigan and Northeastern to become scholars of technology's role in work, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. Join my lab at Northwestern in September 2025 where we are currently designing Human-AI coaching systems and Human-AI robotic systems. Our fully funded, five-year PhD program through the Technology and Social Behavior Program prepares scholars for impactful careers at top universities. Applications are open until December 1, 2024 Find program details and application instructions here: https://lnkd.in/gCzsE9T4 Photo credit: Lisa Beth Anderson

Hear center affiliate Nicholas Diakopoulos's insights on the use of AI in modern journalism

This Monday, PhD students spent time in the center practicing their presentations for the ACM SIGCHI Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW) conference this weekend. Thank you to Sachita Nishal for organizing!

If you happen to be free this Saturday night @7:30 pm and in the city of Chicago, consider getting tickets to the play "Coronation" at the Den Theatre. The play revolves around three women and a plan to permanently place a woman in power in America, essentially making her Queen! Not only is this play bound to leave viewers doubled over in laughter, but, best of all, HCI+D Director Liz Gerber (she/her) will be speaking after the play as an AI expert! If you're interested in purchasing a ticket, here's the link to do so: https://lnkd.in/enRkyfsF

This past Monday, we co-sponsored Bilge Mutlu, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Director of its People and Robots Laboratory, alongside McCormick School of Engineering's 512 Seminar Series! Professor Mutlu delivered intriguing insights into the world of collaborative robots and their ability to aid the workforce in spaces where automation is infeasible, costly, or ineffective. As AI and robotic technologies improve, human-centered perspectives must be applied to bring about positive societal changes! Thank you, Professor Mutlu, for a lecture that left students and faculty thinking about the possibilities of human-computer interactions.

Mark your calendars! ?? Join Professor Noshir Contractor this Thursday, November 7th, @10am CST as he discusses how monitoring, anticipating, and designing interventions for grand societal challenges can be improved with big data.

Nov. 5 is Election Day—it's time to vote! ??????? Voting is a cornerstone of civic engagement. Wildcats who voted early last week got a lift to the polls in the Voter Van, one of several resources offered by NU Votes. Have questions or need help? Visit ?? nuvotes.org ?? Elisa Huang