IDC Seminars 2009

10 Mar 2009 – Dr Andrew Adams, School of Systems Engineering, University of Reading, Topic - TBC

17 Mar 2009 – Dr Dagmara Annaz, Psychology, MU, Topic - TBC

24 Mar 2009 - none

31 Mar 2009 – Dr Dave Randall, Department of Sociology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Topic - TBC

TITLE: The Japanese Sense of Information Privacy

SPEAKER: Dr Andrew Adams, Lecturer, School of Systems Engineering,
University of Reading

WHEN AND WHERE: 10 March 2009, 1100-1230h. Rm HG07 Hatchroft Building.

ABSTRACT: There is an academic myth datying back to at least 1946 that the Japanese have no sense of privacy. The adoption of data protection laws following EU/OECD principals in 2003 was seen by many as a major shift in attitudes to information privacy. Joint research work by the speaker and colleagues in Japan presents the thesis that although significantly different in detail, the Japanese Sense of Information Privacy is a traditional element of Japanese society and that the new laws replace social norms broken by new technology, as elsewhere.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Andrew Adams has a PhD in Computer Science from the University of St Andrews and a Master (LLM) in Law form the University of Reading. He teaches and researches social, legal and ethical impacts of computer and commucinations technology. He co-wrote Pandora's Box: Social and Professional Issues of the Information Age. In 2007 he was a Visiting Professor at Meiji University in Tokyo, and continues regular collaborative work with colleagues at Meiji and Ehime Universities. He has recently published articles on privacy, data protection, open access to scholarly articles and e-learning.

TITLE: Network Science: A Tankless Undertaking

SPEAKER: Dr. Michael Strub, USARL Exchange Scientist at MOD Dstl Porton Down, UK

WHEN AND WHERE: Tuesday, 24 Feb 2009, 1100h - 1230h, HG09 Hatchroft Building.

ABSTRACT: Future military capability comes with the risk that the increased costs may have to come from the current weapon inventory. The presentation will be an overview of the UK-US International Technology Alliance in Network Science with a focus on the military problems which the fundamental research is seeking to address. It will include comments on some of the unique characteristics of this collaborative enterprise and how it benefits academia.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr. Strub received his PhD in Engineering Psychology from the Ohio State University in 1968. For over 40 years, he has served as a research scientist and manager in command and control systems and training. From 2001-2007, he managed the Army Research Laboratory, ARL, Collaborative Technology Alliance entitled Advanced Decision Making. He served in the UK in a liaison position from 1994-1999 and return for a second tour in the UK as an Exchange Scientist for the MOD Dstl.

Past IDC Seminars

SPEAKER: Professor Ann Blandford, UCL Interaction Centre.

WHEN AND WHERE: Tuesday, 17 Feb 2009, 1100h - 1230h, HG09 Hatchroft Building.

ABSTRACT: The design and evaluation of multimodal systems has traditionally been a craft skill. There are some well established heuristics, guidelines and frameworks for assessing multimodal interactions, but no established methodologies that focus on the design of the interaction between user and system in context. In this talk, I will present EMU, a systematic evaluation methodology for reasoning about the usability of an interactive system in terms of the modalities of interaction. I will illustrate its application using an example of in-car navigation. EMU fills a niche in the repertoire of analytical evaluation approaches by focusing on the quality of interaction in terms of the modalities of interaction, how modalities are integrated, and where there may be interaction breakdowns due to modality clashes, synchronisation difficulties or distractions.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Ann Blandford is Professor of Human-Computer Interaction and Director of UCL Interaction Centre. There, she leads a team of twenty academics and researchers studying various aspects of HCI. Her research focuses on seeking a better understanding of interactive systems from a user perspective, and using that understanding to support the design and evaluation of systems. Her research activities include investigating the use of systems in context, and the effects of system design on user experience.

SPEAKER: Dr Julie Gore, Faculty of Management & Law, University of Surrey

WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, 10 February, 1100-1230h, HG09 *Hatchcroft Building*

ABSTRACT: The aim of this session is to share experiences of using applied cognitive task analysis (ACTA) in different field settings. Three studies will be reported with: Human Resource Directors, Aviation pilots and Day Traders. The strengths and limitations of accessing expert cognition and naturalistic decision making with ACTA will be discussed. References: Gore, J. & McAndrew, C. (2009 forthcoming) Accessing expertise. The Psychologist.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Julie is a Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour, and a Chartered psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Her research interests focus upon the application of behavioural science to management research in particular: cognitive psychology; qualitative research methods and a long term interest in Naturalistic Decision Making. Wider research applications have included examining organisational issues including: leadership; organisational culture; best practice in SMEs (DTI sponsored); trust, knowledge transfer, organisational and occupational commitment, flexibility; the effect of digitalisation upon organisational form (Qinetiq). Consultancy experience has involved the implementation of tailored management development programmes.

IDC Seminars 2008

TITLE: Looking under the Desktop: Where was HCI before 1984?
SPEAKER: Dr Alan Blackwell, Reader in Interdisciplinary Design, University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory

DATE & TIME: Tuesday, 9 Dec 2008, 1100h, Focus Area (Meeting Room), Town Hall Building, Hendon.

ABSTRACT: The discipline of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), as we now understand it, can be traced to a conference held in Gaithersburg in 1982. However the intellectual foundations of the field were already in place by that time. These had developed during an exciting period, when it was already clear that computer technology would transform human life, but nobody knew exactly how that was going to come about. This talk revisits that period,
before HCI had a name, when intellectual currents were swirling and solidifying into the technological forms of the Xerox Star and Apple Macintosh. Researchers today need to do the same thing again, as we enter the age of ubiquitous computing ... unless we have forgotten how.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Alan Blackwell is a Reader in the Cambridge University Computer Laboratory, with qualifications in professional engineering,
computer science and experimental psychology. He has 12 years experience of designing industrial systems, electronic and software products. He has taught design courses and supervised postgraduate design research students in Computing, Architecture, Psychology, Languages, Music and Engineering. He is a fellow of Darwin College Cambridge, co-director of the Crucible Network for research in Interdisciplinary Design, and a director of the East of England cultural consortium Living East. He has honorary appointments in Information Management at Victoria University of
Wellington and in the Integrative Study of Work at University of Colorado, Boulder. His research involves the development of technologies for home automation, visual representations and end-user programming, based on empirical and critical research into the human and social contexts of technology. Further details from www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~afb21/