Interaction Design and Human-Computer Interaction

Interaction Design and Human-Computer Interaction

What is Interaction Design and HCI?

How you use computing technology, such as Web pages, games and cell phones, can be designed really well or designed poorly.  HCI professionals design this interaction. HCI professionals work in every company developing the interfaces between systems and people.  Creative and insightful, HCI professionals are forward thinkers who possess the technical skills to implement effective interfaces.  They understand how people use technology and truly care about making this interaction easy and productive. 

What Jobs Do I Qualify For?

HCI jobs are in high demand.  NJIT (and Rutgers) Career Services offices get notices of many more jobs (and coop internships) than our students can fill.  In aviation, manufacturing, and the nuclear industry, HCI is recognized as a significant safety issue.  In the entertainment and advertising industries, interactive and social computing are so central that managers highly value HCI practitioners.  HCI specialists act as liaisons among graphic designers, business managers, developers and end users. Every company that designs and implements interfaces to computing systems needs HCI specialists!  Furthermore, several consulting companies evaluate interface effectiveness and improve designs.

Common HCI job titles include:

  • User Experience (UX) Designer
  • Game Designer
  • Virtual Reality Designer
  • Web and Interaction Designer
  • Information Architect
  • Usability Engineer
  • Digital Media Producer

Why HCI at NJIT?

Flexible degrees

  • Many course options
  • Schedule: part or full time; e-learning

Opportunities to work closely with faculty

  • Many research & industry connections

Location

  • 3 subway stops from Newark Penn Station
  • Close to major highways
  • Renovated campus

Information Systems (IS)

  • Within pervasive computing & social networks
  • Human-centered computing
  • Technical focus
  • Analysis, design, implementation, evaluation

Prof & Technical Communications (PTC)

  • User-centered design

Biomedical & Information Systems Collaboration

  • Physiological interfaces, especially for rehabilitation


What is Physiological-based Human-Computer Interaction?

At the intersection of human physiology and computer technology, tremendous opportunities exist for patients, professionals, companies and researchers. Physiological-based Human-Computer Interaction concerns on computer interaction with people. The Physiological-based Human-Computer Interaction programs focus on understanding both human physiology, and how to analyze, design, implement and evaluate computing-based interaction with human physiology.

This interaction includes

  • video games to make rehabilitation interesting and challenging
  • virtual or physical interaction with motorized assistive and rehabilitation devices
  • simulations for medical personnel and researchers

HCI Degree and Certificate Programs

  • BS Human-Computer Interaction
  • Masters:
    • MS Professional and Technical Communication
      • part-time, full-time, e-learning                                    
    • MS Biomedical Engineering
    • MS Information Systems
      • Specializations: Interaction Design, Biomedical Interaction Design
      • part-time, full-time, e-learning
  • Graduate Certificates:
    • As a stepping stone to the full MSIS degree, you may do a 4-course Graduate Certificate. Then you can apply to the regular MS Program in your final semester of classes. All four courses will count fully towards your MS degree.
    • Graduate Certificates available:​
      • Technical Communication Essentials (part-time, full-time, e-learning)
  • Ph.D. in Information Systems
    • Specialization in Human-Centered Computing
    • Collaboration with Information Systems, Biomedical Engineering and Professional & Technical Communication
    • Career Paths
      • Research-oriented faculty
      • Corporate R&D
      • Evaluation-oriented professionals

HCI Research @ NJIT

  • Physiological/rehabilitation interfaces and activities
  • Emergency management systems
  • SmartCampus project
    • ubicomp, location-aware social networking
    • campus-wide testbed
  • Interface evaluation (part of most research)
  • Many opportunities for collaboration
  • Society & technology, gaming, architecture, social networking, many others
    ​
  • Information Systems
    • Quentin Jones
    • Affiliated:
      • Brian Amento, Elizabeth Churchill, Steve Whittaker
  • Physiological HCI (BME)
  • User-Centered Computing (PTC)
  • and many others with strong HCI interests

Ways to Collaborate with Us

  • We welcome your thoughts, interaction & collaboration! E-mail us at is@njit.edu
  • Join us as well-qualified adjunct faculty
  • Be a guest speaker in a research colloquium or for our undergraduate and masters students
  • Partner with us in research
  • Help us brainstorm on HCI educational or research issues
    • How do we increase awareness and best engage potential students in the HCI field?