Unit 6: Emerging Technologies in HCI

Emerging Interfaces

• Brain-computer interface (BCI) allows people with paralysis to use computing devices by recording signals from the motor cortex and translating them into commands.
• Examples of BCI include The BrainGate project, typing for people with paralysis, and controlling a tablet for people with paralysis.
• Facebook is funding experiments to create a device that reads minds, developing "speech decoders" to determine what people are trying to say by analyzing brain signals.
• BCI can be combined with Virtual Reality (VR) to create a new interface.

Robots and Drones

• Robots are programmable machines that can perform tasks such as bomb disposal, search and rescue, cleaning, gardening, and providing therapeutic qualities.
• Drones, also known as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), are originally used for jobs that are too dull, dirty, or dangerous for humans.
• Drones are now more affordable and accessible, and can be used for entertainment, agriculture, wildlife conservation, delivery, and combat.

Wearables

• Wearables are computing devices worn on the body, containing sensors that transmit signals to a user's smartphone or computer.
• Popular wearables include smartwatches and activity/fitness trackers.
• Other wearables include smart clothing (e-textile), implantables, and interactive e-textile.
• Examples of smart clothing include Samsung Smart Clothing and KineticDress.

Augmented, Mixed, and Virtual Realities

• Virtual reality (VR) is a virtual world where people can interact with each other.
• The metaverse is a virtual world that mirrors our real world, where avatars can move freely.
• Technologies important for the development and growth of the metaverse include AR and VR.

Haptic Interface

• Haptic interfaces provide tactile feedback by applying vibration and forces to the person.
• This is done by using actuators that are embedded in clothes or devices.

Emotional Interaction

• Affective computing uses computers to recognize and express emotions in the same way as humans do.
• Emotional AI automates the measurement of feelings and behaviors by using AI technologies to analyze facial expressions and voice.
• Techniques used to collect and infer emotions include cameras, biosensors, speech, motion capture systems, eye tracking, and finger pulse.

Persuasive Technologies

• Digital pet, such as Tamagotchi, motivates children to be physically active by requiring them to walk, run, or jump every day to keep the digital pet alive.
• Fitness/weight trackers encourage users to change their behaviors by displaying their progress, setting goals, sending reminders, and offering rewards.

Anthromorphism

• Anthromorphism is the natural tendency to attribute human qualities to animals and objects.
• Examples of anthromorphism include talking to computers/devices like they are human.

Explore the emerging trends and innovations in Human-Computer Interaction, including brain-computer interfaces, robots, and persuasive technologies. This unit covers the future of HCI and its implications on design and ethics.