Computing technology is becoming pervasive in everyday life and is embedded in many devices and systems, or ordinary objects. This enables novel interaction modes such as multitouch and gestural interaction. These technologies enrich our lives and create an opportunity space for novel applications in everyday situations and work contexts. They also confront us with new design challenges in an increasingly diverse range of application contexts. These challenges require interdisciplinary collaborations and transdisciplinary thinking.
The HCI group focuses on the user side of Ubiquitous Computing, in particular on and embodied interactions where users can grasp and manipulate objects, interact via body movements and where physical spaces are augmented with digital capabilities. We explore new application areas, such as media in Urban space, educational systems, or applications for interactive objects and wearable computing in the performing arts. Our research often investigates how to support collaborative work, learning and interaction. We develop innovative systems, such as installations for museums or public and urban spaces, based on rapid prototyping and physical computing technologies. We further conduct user studies (in-the-wild as well as lab-based), and investigate the usability as well as subjective user experiences and multi-user interaction. We also work on developing theory and concepts, which then support design and analysis activities for these new areas.
Selected Projects
For more information on the HCI group see https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/media/chairs/computer-science-department/human-computer-interaction/
Interface Development Lab
The Interface Development lab is a central facility for research across the faculty (also accessible to research groups in Arts/Design) and is managed by the HCI chair and group. It supports the design, development and production of innovative physical-digital interfaces and devices. The facilities allow rapid prototyping of such artefacts at a quality level that allows them to be directly used in research studies or to be deployed.
The lab hosts 3 rapid prototyping machines for 3D printing. Two are FDM based dual head 3D printers that can mix 2 materials in one print. The other is a high resolution DLP based printer, which uses photo-sensitive resin which uses photo-sensitive resin that is also usable for casting processes. The lab further has an up-to-date electronics development workbench for building and developing electronic circuits for physical computing using microcontrollers.
Furthermore there is a reflow oven for small batch PCB printed circuit board (PCB) assembly as well as tools for in-house circuit development and debugging (e.g. a 500MHz multichannel oscilloscope, USB protocol analyzer, RF-Spectrum analyzer, etc.). Moreover, we have a set of basic tools for electronic textile work and wearables. Several workstations are available for 3D modelling and associated work processes.
The Interface Development Lab furthermore has a high-precision mobile eye-tracking system, which is currently managed by the Usability research group.
For the terms of use and fees please read the PDF provided below. Faculty members can apply for access depending on the research project.