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Human-Computer Interaction

Technology permeates every sector of the economy and almost every human activity, yet it often does not effectively meet our needs. This deficiency both hinders productivity and presents strong commercial potential.

Since the need for more effective technology spans the globe, greater national support for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research and user interface design would provide Canadian technology companies with a competitive advantage on a global scale, while increasing their customers’ productivity.

The NRC Institute for Information Technology (NRC-IIT) established an innovative HCI research program in response to these challenges and opportunities and to begin addressing HCI issues.

The HCI program at NRC-IIT is multidisciplinary, drawing on experts from human factors, computer science, information science, and experimental and cognitive psychology. Its goal is to develop, modify, evaluate and integrate technology to make everyday work and social life more productive and enjoyable.

Program researchers are currently conducting cutting edge R&D in the following areas:

speech-based interfaces
3D and virtual reality
socio-ethical issues
socially aware technologies
computer-supported collaboration

Current Projects

HCI is also involved in the following projects that are part of other NRC-IIT Research Programs:

Broadband Visual Communication - Music Grid
3D Technologies - Collaborative Virtual Environments

The HCI program has also created a new multimedia HCI lab at NRC-IIT, to serve the needs of its researchers, their collaborators, and community partners.

Finally, in 2001 the HCI program sponsored a profile of the Canadian HCI research community, which highlighted the lack of a national organization for HCI. As a result, NRC-IIT, together with several stakeholders, is spearheading the movement to organize Canada's HCI researchers to form a more cohesive research community.

Research Contact

Dr. Janice Singer
Research Officer
Software Engineering
NRC Institute for Information Technology
1200 Montreal Road
Building M-50, Room 257
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6
Telephone: +1 (613) 991-6346
Fax: +1 (613) 952-7151
E-mail: Janice Singer

Business Contact

Dr. George Forester
Business Development Officer
Business Development Office, NCR
NRC Institute for Information Technology
1200 Montreal Road
Building M-50, Room 203
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6
Telephone: +1 (613) 993-3478
Fax: +1 (613) 952-0074
E-mail: George.Forester@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca