The UCE group creates and explores concepts that contribute to better interfacing of systems to users. Our researchers investigate the applicability of relevant enabling technologies. They develop design and evaluation methods that establish a close link between concept development and users? goals needs and desires.

The UCE group focuses on exploring and demonstrating novel concepts. Developing enabling technology is not an explicit aim. Also, developing fundamental psychological theories through experimental research is not an aim in itself. This means that we need to rely on technology and psychological theory developed elsewhere. Where possible we collaborate with other groups that concentrate on the development of enabling technology. However, group members need a thorough knowledge of the relevant technologies and theories for any useful research or fruitful collaboration with other researchers.

UCE research focuses on three topics:

• Exploring new interaction concepts
  Existing applications mainly exploit interaction concepts from the domain of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). New technologies allow a much wider range of interaction concepts. UCE explores these concepts, connecting to trends such as multi-modal interfaces, augmented and virtual reality and perceptual user interfaces. In all cases, the primary objective is to create added value for the user. Developing interaction concepts is not an aim in itself. We want to seek out opportunities to make interaction more effective, efficient and satisfactory. We are exploring interesting trends in multi-modal interaction and perceptual
• Exploring interaction in the context of aware environments
  Aware environments generalise the concept of perceptual user interfaces on an environmental level. Sensing capabilities and knowledge acquisition capabilities of interconnected systems make it possible for systems to exchange information. In this way, designers may create an environment that can be optimally tuned to goals, needs and desires of users. As a result the interaction between users and systems is simplified to the level of interaction between people and their environment. We are looking at a number of issues. We are interested in the precise distribution of control between user and environment. Then there is the matter of the exact design of the interaction between user and environment ? whether the user wants to be in control (e.g. to change system parameters). A third area concerns the knowledge management process ? determining which knowledge needs to be extracted and how it can be managed.
• Developing methods for design and evaluation
  Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) literature suggests plenty of methods of designing and evaluating conventional interfaces for task-oriented applications with typical user populations. But we still need to develop new design and evaluation methods for interaction concepts in new contexts and with new user populations. For example, we are looking at ways of defining requirements for interacting in and with aware environments. And how to define requirements and evaluate interaction concepts with non-standard user groups such as children. Our output consists of working prototypes demonstrating concepts and guidelines, papers in HCI journals and conference proceedings, and papers in other journals.