Information technology and automation are increasingly present in our daily lives. From the modern workplace to societal issues like transportation and even more private issues like stress management: people need to interact with technology, and technology needs to understand its user. Only then can we attain our goals – for example, as an individual trying to reduce stress using an app, as a society to achieve sustainability goals, or as a developer of self-driving cars that users have to trust. Thereby, understanding and supporting human–technology interaction is becoming both a practically and socially relevant issue. How do you fit technology to its user?
This compelling question is core to studying human-technology interaction. Fundamental technical and societal issues demand resolution. How should robots approach humans? How should we design music recommender systems? What is the effect of office lighting on burnout? When do humans trust algorithms – and how can we rebuild trust when they fail? How should brain-computer interfaces be designed? Can streetlighting be used to decrease aggressive behavior in entertainment areas? Can regular online learning assessment help improve student performance?
If you enjoy addressing problems such as these – and seeking the solution in an inspirational environment together with like-minded people – consider studying the interaction between humans and technology.
Applying knowledge of social sciences to technology
Human-technology interaction engineering focuses on technology from a user’s perspective. This requires a profound understanding of both human and technological aspects. These include:
- usability
- ergonomics
- perception
- cognition
- decision making
- social psychology
- consumer behavior
- environmental psychology.
The fundamental question is if ecology and technology are truly compatible as we strive to build a more sustainable world. Some people regard technology as a pollutant because minerals and other raw materials need to be extracted from the earth, natural resources are destroyed, and fossil fuels and other energy sources still abound. So the best way to study how people are adapting to an increasingly technological ecology is through qualitative and computational models and measures. Design and training have thus become the primary ways to support performance and cognition. And that is what we do, here at the Eindhoven University of Technology. How human-technology interaction helps improve people's daily lives is at the core of our MSc program.
Master of Human-Technology Interaction
Our multidisciplinary Human-Technology Interaction master’s program provides fundamental knowledge of the psychological sciences. We cover basic themes such as:
- perception
- cognition
- communication
- motivation; and
- attitudes.
This knowledge is then applied to a technological domain of your choice. For example:
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Robotics; or the
- Built Environment.
The program focuses on new opportunities and problems arising from these rapidly-changing technological domains. You will need a thorough understanding of technology. A substantial part of the program therefore consists of engineering courses in your area of interest.
After completing the program, you will be able to assess the viability of new technological developments in relation to human constraints and capabilities. This knowledge will enable you to play a crucial role in the design of new technologies by putting the user at center stage.
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This program is NVAO-accredited. In the Netherlands, the NVAO assesses the internal quality assurance of universities and colleges and the quality of their programs.