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
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.
UbiComp Lab
The Ubiquitous Computing (UbiComp) Lab develops innovative systems for health sensing, low-power sensing, energy sensing, activity recognition and novel user interface technology for real-world applications.
Faculty Members
Centers & Initiatives
Global Innovation Exchange is the University of Washington’s
engineering and business institute for emerging and established
technology leaders. GIX partners with corporate, government and non-profit organizations to deliver transformational learning through graduate education, global experiences and professional development programs.
engineering and business institute for emerging and established
technology leaders. GIX partners with corporate, government and non-profit organizations to deliver transformational learning through graduate education, global experiences and professional development programs.
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
Allen School News
The fellowship will support Zhang’s work in sustainable ubiquitous computing, including the development of recyclable electronics and leveraging artificial intelligence to estimate carbon footprints and provide personalized health insights.
UW News
New research from UW researchers and the Toyota Research Institute, or TRI, explores how drivers balance driving and using touch screens while distracted. The results could help auto manufacturers design safer, more responsive touch screens and in-car interfaces.
UW News
AI trained on data from the entire internet won’t work equally well for people in different cultures. But when UW researchers fed AI agents data from a kitchen simulation game, they found that the AI absorbed cultural values from observing human behavior — similar to what children do.