Research seminar Jo Vermeulen, Universidad Calgary, Friday, March 31, 9:30 am

23 março 2017, 10:40 - Ana Maria de Almeida Nogueira Marques

Title: Designing Intelligible Technology

Speaker: Jo Vermeulen, Universidad Calgary 

Date and time: Friday, March 31, 9:30 am

Location: CSE meeting room (Informática II - Alameda), videocast to DSI room in Tagus.

Abstract:
We are currently living in a world of ubiquitous computing – a world beyond the personal computer, in which everyone is interacting daily with many different computing devices in many different form factors. The increasing mobility of computing devices and integration of sensors has radically changed the way we interact with technology. However, in addition to opening new ways of engaging with technology, ubiquitous computing also brought about several new challenges for the field of Human–Computer Interaction. I will illustrate the difficulties people face when dealing with so-called "smart" technologies that act on our behalf, and talk about the dark side of this technology. I will present several strategies and techniques from my research that can help to address these challenges. At the core of my vision is technology that works for us, and that we can understand: the concept of intelligible technology. Finally, I will provide future directions towards designing technology that both empowers us and keeps us in the loop.

Bio:
Jo Vermeulen has an MSc. and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Hasselt University in Belgium. He was awarded the 2015 FWO – IBM Innovation Award, a prize given annually to the best Belgian PhD dissertation in computer science. Jo's research received several other awards, including a Best Paper at ACM DIS 2014 and a Best Paper Honorable Mention Award at CHI 2013. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the InnoVis group in the Interactions Lab at the University of Calgary, where he works with Dr. Sheelagh Carpendale. His research interests lie at the intersection of human–computer interaction, ubiquitous computing and information visualization. A recurring theme in Jo's work is to reveal the invisible aspects of technology. He strongly believes in designing interactive technology that will make people – not just technology – smarter.