Being human: a lived experience of 30 years of Human-Computer Interaction: Talk by Dr. Geraldine Fitzpatrick

Human Computer Interaction (HCI) has always been concerned with designing technologies from a people-centred perspective. However what this means has changed radically over the years — each new technology wave brings different challenges for interpreting what aspects of H (human), C (computer) and I (interaction) matter.

Geraldine Fitzpatrick is Professor of Technology Design and Assessment and heads the HCI Group at TU Wien, Austria. Previously, she was: Interact Lab Director, Sussex Uni.; User Experience consultant, Sapient London; and Senior Researcher, DSTC, Australia. She holds degrees in Computer Science (BInfTech (Hons), PhD) and Applied Positive Psychology (MAPPCP). Her research is at the intersection of social and computer sciences, with a particular interest in collaboration, health and well-being, social and emotional skills, and community building. Her most recent peer service roles include general co-chair for CHI2019, papers co-chair for CSCW2018 and various international advisory boards. She is an ACM Distinguished Scientist, ACM Distinguished Speaker and hosts the Changing Academic Life podcast series.

Since 1998, Geraldine Fitzpatrick has worked as a project manager and senior researcher at the Distributed Systems Technology Center in Brisbane, researching computer-aided cooperation, event notification systems and medical informatics. Subsequently, she took over the positions Senior Manager at Sapient Ltd London and lecturer at the University of Sussex.

“Reflecting on 30 years of personal experience as an HCI student/researcher, user experience consultant, and academic, what becomes clear is that technology is now increasingly entangled in being human and shaping the society we live in. This puts an enormous responsibility on us to be responsible HCI practitioners, reflective in our role shaping human futures.”

Currently, the computer scientist is a professor at the Vienna University of Technology and head of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Her field of research is at the interface of technical and social knowledge to support social interaction and collaboration. Geraldine Fitzpatrick is particularly interested in tangible applications that fit into an everyday context of work, play and everyday life, such as helping the elderly to live at home.

Join us for her talk about her experiences as an HCI practitioner.

Check out her work at http://igw.tuwien.ac.at/hci/people/gfitzpatrick