From Punch Cards to Brain-Computer Interfaces: 75 Years of Human-Computer Interaction in the UK will features an interactive panel and is a response to – and takes its name from – a report funded by the WCIT and published by AIT in September 2023 entitled; From Punch Cards to Brain Computer Interfaces: 75 Years of Human-Computer Interaction and its Impact on Society, that examined the role UK pioneers have made to the development of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

Led by Dr Elisabetta Mori, the in-depth report reviewed past interviews by AIT with leading figures in the field as well as interviews conducted by Dr Mori as part of the project to provide a more comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the history of HCI in UK.

The HCI event will be an opportunity for a wider audience to hear from Dr Mori and a specially invited panel as they provide an overview of the project, the history of HCI and its impact on society now and into the future.

The beginnings of HCI and its rise in the UK

Dr Mori will explore the beginnings of Human-Computer Interaction in the 1950s, focusing in particular on the rise of the discipline in the UK and its pioneers, and how HCI has changed in both direction and significance following the emergence of the World Wide Web and the popularisation of AI.

Dr Mori will be joined by panelists including Chris Winter, Advocate for the Digital Poverty Alliance, Professor Leela Damodaran, Professor Emerita of Digital Inclusion and Participation at Loughborough University, Paul Excell – WCIT and IT Entrepreneur and Tola Sargeant, AIT CEO.

Following Dr Mori’s summary of her work, our panel will discuss topics such as:

· What insights are there for accessibility charities ... impaired sight, mobility, hearing, neurodiversity etc. (Alan Newell: “We tend to design for ordinary users. I’m interested in extraordinary users. A positive way of looking at people with disabilities”)

– Do we recognise the digital divide here in the UK or elsewhere?

– Where should/will HCI go?

– How can we guide the safer, more ethical, enriching deployment of HCI?

– What can we learn from our Pioneers to improve society for today and tomorrow?

– What advice would you give to a young HCI designer?

– What’s the most exiting Human Computer innovation to improve inclusion?

– What actions should we be taking now to guide the safer, more ethical, and enriching deployment of HCI?

Exploring 75 Years of Human-Computer Interaction in the UK