The Intelligible Interactive Systems research unit at Hasselt University (UHasselt) – Expertise Centre for Digital Media (EDM) conducts research in uncovering new and interesting ways to interact with complex computing systems and computing systems using some type of embedded intelligence (e.g. machine learning). We are also part of the Data Intelligence and Computation research unit, where we focus on interaction with complex data, data processing algorithms and data visualisation.
Within this scope we work, amongst others, on user interface software and technologies, interface design tools, engineering processes for building complex systems, human-robot interaction, intelligent and distributed user interfaces, and virtual, augmented and mixed reality solutions. We are a Flanders Make core lab and through this framework we try to help Flemish industry to innovate. We are also part of the Flemish AI Initiative and are involved in “Grand Challenge 4: Human-like AI”.
We adhere to the principle of combining Applied and Basic research (the ABC principle as coined by Ben Schneiderman in his book The New ABCs of Research: Achieving Breakthrough Collaborations). We aim at high impact research in top-tier technical venues of HCI and valorize work via spinoffs and licenses. Our research work often cross the boundaries of several domains, including computer science, design, physics, and various types of engineering. Research is often done in collaboration with other research units at EDM.
Positions
We have PhD positions and research internships available within our research unit. Contact me and apply through our university website here:
- PhD position in Data Intelligence and Computation (contact me if you are interested in the HCI part. Contact Tom Haber if you are interested in scientific computation.
- PhD position in Computer Science (contact me if you are interested in doing research in the Interactive Intelligible Systems unit)
The topic of the PhD will be discussed together with the candidate but will be aligned with the research focus of the research unit. Fully-funded PhD position for a period of 2+2years. A positive evaluation is needed after two years to start the next period. Candidates get the opportunity and are encouraged to do at least one international internship during the PhD.
Profile
The candidate has (or will have in the near future) a master degree in computer science, civil engineering, or equivalent. As our group conducts technical research in HCI, strong technical skills are required and a specialization in HCI is desired. Candidates have to be motivated to progress the state of the art, open for collaboration with others, be able to adopt new skills quickly, have an independent work style, and value and contribute to a work environment that is stimulating and fun.
Some examples of our previous work
- Fortunettes: Feedforward about the Future State of GUI Widgets, Sven Coppers, Kris Luyten, Davy Vanacken, David Navarre, Philippe Palanque, Christine Gris, The 11th ACM SIGCHI Symposium on Engineering Interactive Computing Systems (EICS 2019), Valencia, Spain, 2019. In The Proceedings of the ACM on Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Volume 3, Issue EICS, Article No. 20
- Enhancing Patient Motivation through Intelligibility in Cardiac Tele-rehabilitation, Supraja Sankaran, Kris Luyten, Dominique Hansen, Paul Dendale, Karin Coninx, Interacting with Computers, 2019
- Intellingo: The Intelligible Translation Environment, Sven Coppers, Jan Van den Bergh, Kris Luyten, Karin Coninx, Iulianna van der Lek-Ciudin, Tom Vanallemeersch, Vincent Vandeghinste, The ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2018), Montreal, Canada, April 21-26, 2018 [~25,8% acceptance (667/2590)][pdf]
- Familiarisation: Restructuring Layouts with Visual Learning Models, Kashyap Todi, Jussi Jokinen, Antti Oulasvirta, Kris Luyten, ACM International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces 2018 (IUI 2018), Tokyo, Japan, March 7-11, 2018 [~23% acceptance (68/297)][pdf]
- Hidden in Plain Sight: an Exploration of a Visual Language for Near-Eye Out-of-Focus Displays in the Peripheral View, Kris Luyten, Donald Degraen, Gustavo Rovelo Ruiz, Sven Coppers, Davy Vanacken, In The ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2016), San Jose, CA, USA, May 7-12, 2016 [~23.4% acceptance]
- Augmenting Social Interactions: Realtime Behavioral Feedback using Social Signal Processing Techniques. Ionut Damian, Chiew Seng Sean Tan, Tobias Bauer, Johannes Schöning, Kris Luyten, Elisabeth André, In The ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2015, Seoul, Korea, April 18 – 23, 2015 [~24% acceptance (495/2150)] [pdf] [youtube movie] [project page with source code]
- The Role of Physiological Cues during Remote Collaboration, Chiew Seng Sean Tan, Kris Luyten, Jan Van den Bergh, Johannes Schöning, Karin Coninx, Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments 23:1, MIT Press Journals, 2014
- Crossing the Bridge over Norman’s Gulf of Execution: Revealing Feedforward’s True Identity, Nominated for CHI2013 Best Paper Award, Jo Vermeulen, Kris Luyten, Elise van den Hoven, Karin Coninx, In The ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2013, Paris, France, April 27 – May 2, 2013 [~20% acceptance (393/1963)] [pdf] [preview movie]