University of Maryland Human–Computer Interaction Lab

The Human–Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL) at the <a href="/facts/University_of_Maryland,_College_Park/Wmc5R1kM">University of Maryland, College Park</a> is an academic research center specializing in the field of <a href="/facts/Human%E2%80%93computer_interaction/EkmIxGCx">human-computer interaction (HCI)</a>. Founded in 1983 by <a href="/facts/Ben_Shneiderman/y6JH0pFh">Ben Shneiderman</a>, it is one of the oldest HCI labs of its kind. The HCIL conducts research on the design, implementation, and evaluation of <a href="/facts/Computer_interface/zdfp8unT">computer interface</a> technologies. Additional research focuses on the development of user interfaces and design methods. Primary activities of the HCIL include collaborative research, publication and the sponsorship of open houses, workshops and annual symposiums.
Being <a href="/facts/Interdisciplinary/HP0uaNUs">interdisciplinary</a> in nature, HCIL collaborates on a broader basis with several academic departments and schools, with faculty and students from <a href="/facts/Information_Studies/HGG3e3Jv">Information Studies</a>, <a href="/facts/Computer_Science/lN3pEyPz">Computer Science</a>, <a href="/facts/Education/WIwsQKF9">Education</a>, <a href="/facts/English_studies/qRfHboLT">English</a>, <a href="/facts/Business/For1e8Nh">Business</a>, and <a href="/facts/Psychology/duoqW7Sz">Psychology</a>. Currently, the lab is jointly supported by the <a href="/facts/University_of_Maryland_College_of_Information_Studies/V49ICUds">College of Information Studies</a> (iSchool) and the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS).
Research affiliated with the HCIL has led to several digital design principles based on Shneiderman's theory of <a href="/facts/Direct_manipulation_interface/XvzG3fQq">direct manipulation</a>. Early research contributions on <a href="/facts/Hypertext/qD8ozxSb">hypertext</a>, particularly <a href="/facts/Hyperlink/LqNsa84e">hyperlinking</a>, are popular <a href="/facts/User_interface/e9sPEWVD">UI</a> design elements still widely used today. In 1989, the lab developed high-precision <a href="/facts/Touchscreen/zpSKDFpe">touchscreen</a> applications for small keyboards that are now widely used on <a href="/facts/Smartphone/cSIrBMWG">smartphones</a>. <a href="/facts/Information_visualization/DSHteV85">Information visualization</a> research on dynamic queries in the early 1990s led to the commercial <a href="/facts/Spotfire/dusfneyk">Spotfire</a> product and <a href="/facts/Treemapping/ws9ss8GK">treemapping</a> strategies. Notable developments in HCI within the 21st century include interfaces for <a href="/facts/Digital_libraries/aBCP81In">digital libraries</a>, multimedia resources for learning communities, and <a href="/facts/Zooming_user_interface/xWFvDtYh">zooming user interfaces</a> (ZUIs). Later contributions include technology design methodologies for children, <a href="/facts/Mobile_device/cNS1Rhvg">mobile</a> and <a href="/facts/Pen-based_computing/7SrB0mhR">pen-based computing</a>, network analysis and visualization using <a href="/facts/NodeXL/QmIhcVdq">NodeXL</a>, and event analytics for electronic patient histories. Developments and research projects for each year are showcased at the lab's annual HCIL Symposium.
As of September 2021<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Maryland_Human%E2%80%93Computer_Interaction_Lab&action=edit">[update]</a>, the lab is directed by <a href="/facts/Jessica_Vitak/xU1falok">Jessica Vitak</a>. Its previous directors are <a href="/facts/Ben_Shneiderman/y6JH0pFh">Ben Shneiderman</a> (1983-2000), <a href="/facts/Ben_Bederson/VummJe83">Ben Bederson</a> (2000-2006), <a href="/facts/Allison_Druin/QsRx5gBo">Allison Druin</a> (2006–2011), <a href="/facts/Jen_Golbeck/uxCMAHv7">Jen Golbeck</a> (2011-2015), Mona Leigh Guha (interim director 2015), June Ahn (2015-2016), <a href="/facts/Niklas_Elmqvist/mf3CLRGa">Niklas Elmqvist</a> (2016-2021) and <a href="/facts/Catherine_Plaisant/rpSUGG8j">Catherine Plaisant</a> (acting director 1996).

University of Maryland Human–Computer Interaction Lab open-in-new

University of Maryland Human–Computer Interaction Lab