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Human-Centered Computing

Our work in human-centered computing explores and enhances the ways in which people and communities engage with and experience technology. 

Our research considers the personal, educational, cultural, and ethical implications of innovation. Drawing upon techniques from human-computer interaction, learning sciences, sensing and more, we aim to maximize the potential benefits of technology while minimizing potential harms to individuals, groups and society.


Groups & Labs

Looking up at tall skinny tree trunks with foliage against a blue sky

Wildlab

The Wildlab explores how technology can be biased against people who are unlike those who created it — and to build systems that help designers, developers, and researchers better support the needs and perspectives of different people.

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Animation Research Labs (ARL)

The interdisciplinary ARL advances the state of the art in animation through research, teaching, and computer-animated production.


Allen School Faculty

Assistant Teaching Professor

Professor

Professor

Assistant Teaching Professor


Centers & Initiatives

Society + Technology is a cross-campus, cross-disciplinary initiative and community at the University of Washington that is dedicated to research, teaching and learning focused on the social, societal and justice dimensions of technology.

Computing for the Environment (CS4Env) at the University of Washington supports novel collaborations across the broad fields of environmental sciences and computer science & engineering. The initiative engages environmental scientists and engineers, computer scientists and engineers, and data scientists in using advanced technologies, methodologies and computing resources to accelerate research that addresses pressing societal challenges related to climate change, pollution, biodiversity and more.

Highlights


UW News

Researchers in the Allen School’s Mobile Intelligence Lab developed VueBuds, the first system that incorporates tiny cameras in off-the-shelf wireless earbuds as a less-intrusive, more privacy-preserving alternative to smart glasses.

Allen School News

The ACM Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI) recently honored Froehlich (Ph.D., ‘11) for his work to improve pedestrian infrastructure across the globe and tackle a range of other accessibility challenges using AI and HCI.

Allen School News

The Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education recognized Ladner with the ACM SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education for his work expanding access for students with disabilities.