Georgia Tech's new HCC Ph.D. Program Announcement

I know a lot of the folks on the ARForum and ARToolkit mailing lists 
are interested in human-centric computing, so I want to share this 
announcement with you.  We're very excited about our new program, so 
please share this with anyone you think might be interested!

    blair

----

     **Sneak Peak--New PhD Program--Accepting Applications Now**

			College of Computing,
			    Georgia Tech,
		    Is Creating a New PhD Program:

		    HUMAN CENTERED COMPUTING (HCC)

Computer systems are ultimately used by people.  What does it mean to
put the human at the center of the design process?  How can we better
apply fundamental lessons from fields like cognitive science, learning
sciences, artificial intelligence, sociology, psychology, and
computational perception to create new computational artifacts to
better support human goals?  In what ways do we need to make
fundamental new advances in knowledge to meet these aims?  An
interdisciplinary approach to computing in support of human needs
opens up possibilities for new discoveries in underlying issues of
science, engineering, art, and design.  Towards this end, the College
of Computing, Georgia Tech is creating a new PhD program in
HUMAN-CENTERED COMPUTING (HCC).

Final approval of the new program is expected in late 2004.
Applications are being accepted now until 12/15 for entry August 2005.

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

Designing computer systems to be used by people is an
interdisciplinary endeavor, drawing on work in fields as diverse as:

* human-computer interaction (HCI)
* learning sciences and technology (LST)
* cognitive science
* artificial intelligence (AI)
* robotics
* assistive technologies
* studies of digital media
* interactive art and entertainment
* music
* architecture
* psychology
* anthropology
* engineering psychology
* software engineering
* information security
* industrial and systems engineering
* industrial design
* history of science and technology
* public policy
* and others

WHO SHOULD APPLY

Students with backgrounds in any of these or other related areas are
invited to apply.  While some students will have a strong technical
background, others will bring experience in social science, design, and
other areas.  Both technical, social science, and design skills will
be learned by all students in the program, working in teams.  It is
not necessary to have prior background in all of these areas.
Excellence in one area and an interest in learning the others is all
that is required.

Students are guaranteed financial support for the first year, and
students in good standing typically receive support (via either a
research or teaching assistantship) throughout the program.

HUMAN-CENTERED COMPUTING RESEARCH

How do you design and build new computing applications that help people
live better lives?  Examples of HCC research include:

   * Ubicomp: The Aware Home

   What new roles can computing technology play in the home?  At Georgia
   Tech, we have a model home for research and experimentation.  For
   example, Assoc. Prof Beth Mynatt and students have created the
   "Digital Family Portrait," which enables adult children to be more
   aware of the health of their elderly parent living far away.
   (http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fce/ahri/)

   * Computational Perception: Automatic ASL Interpreter

   Asst. Professor Thad Starner and students are creating an automatic 
sign
   language interpreter, that may help the hearing impaired communicate
   with hearing people, and also allows hearing impaired children to
   practice their ASL by playing computer games in their native
   language, sign.

   * Technology and Learning

   Can we use technology to help kids learn better?  Prof. Janet Kolodner
   and students have created a complete curriculum and software to help
   kids to learn through design activities with technology
   (http://www.cc.gatech.edu/projects/lbd/).  For example, in the
   Digiquilt project, elementary school students learn about fractions
   while making colorful quilt blocks
   (http://home.cc.gatech.edu/kristin/36)

   * Visualization

   Sure computers can display lots of information, but can people 
understand
   and use it?  Prof. John Stasko and the Information Visualization group
   have a few ideas how!  (http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/ii/)

   * Robotics

   Robots can do lots of tasks... but can they work together?  In Asst.
   Prof Tucker Balch's lab, they even play soccer!
   (http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~tucker)

These are just a few examples of work in progress.

THE HCC FACULTY

Our world-class faculty has a diverse, interdisciplinary background
including more than fourteen faculty in HCI, Learning Sciences, and
Cognitive Science; seven in computational perception and robotics; and
more.

LOCATED IN ATLANTA, AN URBAN FOREST

Georgia Tech is located in Atlanta, Georgia, perhaps America's most
livable city, rich in cultural attractions, restaurants, and enough
greenery that it has been called an "urban forest."  The HCC program
is hosted in the brand-new Technology Square Research Building,
located in Technology Square with over a dozen restaurants and cafes
in strolling distance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY

For more information including how to apply, see (temporary website,
brand new program!):

		     http://www.cc.gatech.edu/hcc

		     ** Applications Due 12/15 **

From:	Blair MacIntyre <blair@c ............>	Received:	Oct 28, 2004
To	Discussion on Augmented and Virtual Reality Technology (AR Forum) <arforum@a ....................................>, artoolkit@h ..................
Subject:	Georgia Tech's new HCC Ph.D. Program Announcement
I know a lot of the folks on the ARForum and ARToolkit mailing lists are interested in human-centric computing, so I want to share this announcement with you. We're very excited about our new program, so please share this with anyone you think might be interested! blair ---- Sneak Peak--New PhD Program--Accepting Applications Now College of Computing, Georgia Tech, Is Creating a New PhD Program: HUMAN CENTERED COMPUTING (HCC) Computer systems are ultimately used by people. What does it mean to put the human at the center of the design process? How can we better apply fundamental lessons from fields like cognitive science, learning sciences, artificial intelligence, sociology, psychology, and computational perception to create new computational artifacts to better support human goals? In what ways do we need to make fundamental new advances in knowledge to meet these aims? An interdisciplinary approach to computing in support of human needs opens up possibilities for new discoveries in underlying issues of science, engineering, art, and design. Towards this end, the College of Computing, Georgia Tech is creating a new PhD program in HUMAN-CENTERED COMPUTING (HCC). Final approval of the new program is expected in late 2004. Applications are being accepted now until 12/15 for entry August 2005. INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH Designing computer systems to be used by people is an interdisciplinary endeavor, drawing on work in fields as diverse as: * human-computer interaction (HCI) * learning sciences and technology (LST) * cognitive science * artificial intelligence (AI) * robotics * assistive technologies * studies of digital media * interactive art and entertainment * music * architecture * psychology * anthropology * engineering psychology * software engineering * information security * industrial and systems engineering * industrial design * history of science and technology * public policy * and others WHO SHOULD APPLY Students with backgrounds in any of these or other related areas are invited to apply. While some students will have a strong technical background, others will bring experience in social science, design, and other areas. Both technical, social science, and design skills will be learned by all students in the program, working in teams. It is not necessary to have prior background in all of these areas. Excellence in one area and an interest in learning the others is all that is required. Students are guaranteed financial support for the first year, and students in good standing typically receive support (via either a research or teaching assistantship) throughout the program. HUMAN-CENTERED COMPUTING RESEARCH How do you design and build new computing applications that help people live better lives? Examples of HCC research include: * Ubicomp: The Aware Home What new roles can computing technology play in the home? At Georgia Tech, we have a model home for research and experimentation. For example, Assoc. Prof Beth Mynatt and students have created the "Digital Family Portrait," which enables adult children to be more aware of the health of their elderly parent living far away. (http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fce/ahri/) * Computational Perception: Automatic ASL Interpreter Asst. Professor Thad Starner and students are creating an automatic sign language interpreter, that may help the hearing impaired communicate with hearing people, and also allows hearing impaired children to practice their ASL by playing computer games in their native language, sign. * Technology and Learning Can we use technology to help kids learn better? Prof. Janet Kolodner and students have created a complete curriculum and software to help kids to learn through design activities with technology (http://www.cc.gatech.edu/projects/lbd/). For example, in the Digiquilt project, elementary school students learn about fractions while making colorful quilt blocks (http://home.cc.gatech.edu/kristin/36) * Visualization Sure computers can display lots of information, but can people understand and use it? Prof. John Stasko and the Information Visualization group have a few ideas how! (http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/ii/) * Robotics Robots can do lots of tasks... but can they work together? In Asst. Prof Tucker Balch's lab, they even play soccer! (http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~tucker) These are just a few examples of work in progress. THE HCC FACULTY Our world-class faculty has a diverse, interdisciplinary background including more than fourteen faculty in HCI, Learning Sciences, and Cognitive Science; seven in computational perception and robotics; and more. LOCATED IN ATLANTA, AN URBAN FOREST Georgia Tech is located in Atlanta, Georgia, perhaps America's most livable city, rich in cultural attractions, restaurants, and enough greenery that it has been called an "urban forest." The HCC program is hosted in the brand-new Technology Square Research Building, located in Technology Square with over a dozen restaurants and cafes in strolling distance. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY For more information including how to apply, see (temporary website, brand new program!): http://www.cc.gatech.edu/hcc Applications Due 12/15