Rong-Hao Liang

Designing User Interfaces with Emerging Technologies

DBM170 / 2020 Semester A Quartile 2 / TU Eindhoven

This course introduces emerging user interface technologies that might impact the future generations of human-computer interaction (HCI) design.

Responsible Lecturer: Dr. Rong-Hao Liang (Since 2020)

Assistant Professor, Future Everyday Group, Industrial Design, TU Eindhoven; Assistant Professor, Signal Processing Systems Group, Electrical Engineering, TU Eindhoven

Homepage: http://ronghaoliang.page/

Content

To address ID design research challenges where the main objective is to create value and opportunities in systems with “emerging technologies” and materials, This course introduces emerging user interface technologies that might impact the future generations of human-computer interaction (HCI) design. This master elective belongs to both the ID competency area “Technology and Realization” and “User and Society” and offers a skillset of technical HCI research through design. Through a series of lectures and workshops, you will get an overview of the emerging paradigms of natural user interface technologies in the ubiquitous computing era.

The course will cover but not limit to the following topics:

Students will be challenged to:

The students will team up and develop several feasible product and service design concepts based on the results presented in the emerging technology papers in the midterm and pick one to develop in-depth at the end of the term. The students will deliver final deliverables, including is a work-in-progress paper with a sufficient literature review that shows the societal relevance, an implementation plan that shows an awareness of the technological capabilities and limitations, and a form of evaluation to prove the feasibility of the concepts (e.g., proof-of-concept implementation, preliminary study with an experiential prototype).

Learning Objects

The students will develop realization skills with the introduced emerging technologies (T&R), research skills to keep themselves up-to-date on the emerging technologies (DRP), and made product and service designs that are relevant to users and society (U&S). The main learning points are:

  1. Understanding the visions and theories of natural user interface (NUI) technologies in the context of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
  2. Developing the abilities to stay up-to-date on the emerging UI technologies and use them to justify their futuristic product and service design concepts.
  3. Learning the fundamental theory and emerging practices of the technology and realization that support the proof-of-concept implementation.
  4. Validating the product and service design concepts in the context of user and society.
  5. Presenting and reflecting on the results at an academic level.

Teaching Assistants

Dr. Zengrong Guo, Postdoc Researcher, Future Everyday Group, Industrial Design, TU Eindhoven

Laura Bijl, Master Student, Industrial Design, TU Eindhoven

Noa van der Horst, Master Student, Industrial Design, TU Eindhoven

Syllabus

Week 1

Lecture 1a: Visions and Evolutions in UI Technologies

Lab 1: Making Soft Touch Sensor Pads

Capacitive Sensing, Vinyl Cutting Circuits, Serial Communication

Week 2

Lecture 2: Activating Your E-Tech Radar

Lab 2: Making Soft Multi-touch Sensor Pad

Week 3

Lecture 3: Reality-Based Interaction & Tangible UIs

Paper Presentation

Week 4

Lecture 4a: Shape-Changing UIs

Lecture 4b: Building Your Knowledge Base

Lab 3: Customizing Soft NFC Antenna

Week 5

Lecture 5: Wearable, On-Body UIs, and Human-Computer Integration

Idea Pitching + Help Session

Week 6

Lecture 6: Mixed Reality

Lab 4: Making Soft Actuators

Week 7

Help Sessions

Week 8

Help Sessions

Week 9

Final Presentation