Research
Carnegie Mellon University has a long history of pushing the boundaries of research in human-computer interaction.
The founding faculty members of the Human-Computer Interaction Institute brought expertise from psychology, computer science, design and technology.
As the field of HCI continues to evolve, and our areas of expertise continue to grow, we remain dedicated to the people at the center of our work.
Current Projects and Impact Areas
Research areas
HCII community members contribute innovative research to a variety of academic conferences and subject areas, including human-computer interaction, human factors in computing systems, computer-supported cooperative work, ubiquitous technologies, educational technologies, and accessibility, just to name a few.
Learn more about our current projects, courses and researchers by subject area:
- AI: Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence
- Accessibility and Assistive Technology
- Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR) / Extended Reality (XR)
- Cognitive Science and Behavioral Science
- Data Visualization
- Games and Play
- Healthcare + HCI
- Human-Agent and Human-Robot Interaction
- Interaction and Experience Design
- Learning Sciences and Educational Technologies
- Physical Interfaces – Sensing, Haptics, Fabrication
- Research through Design
- Responsible Computing, Ethics and Policy
- Service Design and AI Innovation
- Social Computing
- Tools and Programming
- Ubiquitous Computing
- Usable Privacy and Security
Research Projects and Capstones
For a broad look at our recent work, view this overview of faculty research projects. To see recent work by our masters students during their 2-semester Capstone project, view our MHCI Capstone projects and METALS Capstone projects. Or, explore our
Doing Research With Us
HCII faculty have decades of expertise in a variety of human-centered research areas. For a list of interdisciplinary centers and research labs affiliated with our faculty, visit our Centers and Labs page. Our location at Carnegie Mellon University offers a strong academic community and a variety of Facilities and Resources. We also offer LearnLab resources to the learning science community.
The HCI Institute has a rich history of academic research and industry partnerships. From startups and nonprofits to major global companies, we value our collaborations with all types of organizations. Interested collaborators and project sponsors can learn more About the HCII and browse options for Doing Research with Us. If you are interested in partnering with the HCII on your organization's next research project, please Email us.
Opportunities for Students
The HCII offers several opportunities for students to participate in the research at our institute.
- Independent Study opportunities are often changing, so check back each semester.
- Our Summer Research Program is a paid, 10-week program for undergraduate students to spend the summer with us while working on one research project with our team.