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SIGCHI

Academic Association Special Interest Group

Logo of the SIGCHI

The Special Interest Group on Computer–Human Interaction (SIGCHI), a rather self-important moniker for what is essentially a specialized division, stands as one of the most prominent special interest groups under the sprawling umbrella of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Its singular, unwavering focus is on the intricate, often frustrating, yet undeniably crucial domain of human–computer interaction (HCI). One might argue that understanding how humans attempt to interface with their digital overlords is a task of cosmic significance, or at least, a persistent academic endeavor.

This group isn't merely a quiet corner of academia; it actively orchestrates the annual international flagship conference for HCI, aptly named CHI. This event is a monumental gathering, routinely attracting upwards of 3,000 attendees, each presumably eager to dissect the latest nuances of how we, the carbon-based lifeforms, manage to communicate with silicon. Beyond the grand spectacle of CHI, SIGCHI also oversees the publication of two influential periodicals: ACM Interactions, a magazine known for its accessible insights into the field, and ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI), a more rigorously academic journal. Furthermore, demonstrating its pervasive reach, the group lends its sponsorship to a formidable roster of over 20 specialized conferences, and extends its "in-cooperation" support to more than 30 additional academic gatherings, ensuring that no stone of HCI research is left unturned, however insignificant some might seem.

For its dedicated members, SIGCHI provides a curated stream of information through two primary membership publications. These include the ACM TechNews - SIGCHI Edition, offering a digest of technological developments relevant to the field, and the aforementioned ACM Interactions, which serves as a more reflective forum for discussion and analysis. It's worth noting, for those with a historical bent, that until the turn of the millennium in 2000, the SIGCHI Bulletin also served as a vital membership publication, a relic of a simpler, less digitally saturated era.

History

The genesis of SIGCHI can be traced back to 1982, a period marked by a strategic renaming and a sharpened focus for what was previously known as the Special Interest Group on Social and Behavioral Computing (SIGSOC). This rebranding signaled a clear pivot towards the nascent yet rapidly expanding field of human–computer interaction. At the helm during this transformative period was Lorraine Borman, a figure of no small consequence, who had previously held the editorial reins of the SIGSOC Bulletin and now stepped into the role of SIGCHI's inaugural chair. Her leadership was instrumental in steering the group towards its current trajectory.

The official, public pronouncement of the ACM SIGCHI's formation resonated through the academic corridors in 1982. This announcement took place during the Human Factors in Computer Systems conference, an event meticulously organized by Bill Curtis and Ben Shneiderman in the somewhat less glamorous, but historically significant, locale of Gaithersburg, Maryland, US. It was here that the foundations for a formalized approach to understanding the human element in computing were firmly laid.

A mere year later, in 1983, SIGCHI joined forces with the Computing Systems Group of the venerable Human Factors Society. This collaboration culminated in the co-sponsorship of the very first Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), an event that would grow to become the cornerstone of the HCI community. The inaugural conference was held in the historic city of Boston, setting a precedent for future gatherings. The subsequent years saw significant expansion, with the addition of the UIST (User Interface Software and Technology) and CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work) conferences to SIGCHI's portfolio in 1988, further solidifying its position as a central authority in various facets of human–computer interaction.

Publications

Beyond the voluminous proceedings that emerge from its myriad conferences, SIGCHI maintains a consistent output of several distinguished periodicals, each catering to different aspects of the human–computer interaction discourse. These publications serve as essential conduits for disseminating research, fostering discussion, and, one presumes, keeping the collective academic consciousness mildly engaged.

  • SIGCHI Bulletin: Once a primary membership publication, the Bulletin served as an early forum for news, opinions, and shorter articles relevant to the SIGCHI community. While no longer published as a membership offering, its historical significance as a chronicler of the field's early development remains.
  • interactions: This magazine is designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical application. It presents articles, interviews, and reviews in a more accessible format than traditional academic journals, aiming to appeal to a broader audience of practitioners, designers, and researchers interested in the practical implications of HCI. It’s where the theory, occasionally, meets reality.
  • ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI): As SIGCHI's flagship scholarly journal, TOCHI is dedicated to publishing archival quality research papers that represent significant advances in the field of human–computer interaction. It’s the place for the truly rigorous, often dense, academic contributions that shape the theoretical and methodological foundations of HCI.

Awards

Each year, in a display of institutional recognition, SIGCHI bestows a series of awards upon individuals deemed to have made significant, often foundational, contributions to the field of human–computer interaction. This annual ritual of acknowledgment serves to highlight exemplary research, dedicated service, and impactful practice, presumably inspiring others to strive for similar heights of perceived excellence.

Approximately seven or eight individuals are inducted into the prestigious CHI Academy each year, a recognition reserved for those whose cumulative work has profoundly shaped and advanced the discipline. It's a lifetime achievement of sorts, minus the "lifetime achievement" award itself, which is a separate, equally lauded category. Beyond the Academy, SIGCHI also presents the CHI Lifetime Achievement Award, specifically honoring exceptional contributions in either research or practice, a testament to a career spent wrestling with the intricacies of human-computer interaction. The CHI Lifetime Service Award is granted to those who have dedicated countless hours, often thanklessly, to the organizational fabric of SIGCHI and the broader HCI community. Finally, the CHI Social Impact Award recognizes work that has demonstrated tangible, positive societal benefits, proving that even in the abstract world of computing, some efforts actually matter to real people. Since 2018, the Outstanding Dissertation Award has been added to the roster, aimed at recognizing truly excellent doctoral theses, presumably before their authors become cosmically tired themselves.

SIGCHI Lifetime Achievement Award

This award, initially known as the SIGCHI Special Recognition Award in its inaugural year, celebrates individuals whose sustained and profound contributions have demonstrably advanced the field of human–computer interaction. It's a recognition of pioneering work that has left an indelible mark on how we understand and design interactive systems.

  • 1998 - Douglas C. Engelbart (awarded as the SIGCHI Special Recognition Award), a visionary whose work on hypertext and the computer mouse fundamentally reshaped human interaction with digital systems.
  • 2000 - Stuart K. Card, recognized for his foundational contributions to the psychology of human-computer interaction, particularly his work on information visualization and the Model Human Processor.
  • 2001 - Ben Shneiderman, a prolific researcher known for his "eight golden rules of interface design" and pioneering work in information visualization and direct manipulation interfaces.
  • 2002 - Donald A. Norman, celebrated for popularizing user-centered design and for his seminal work on usability and the psychology of everyday things.
  • 2003 - John M. Carroll, honored for his contributions to scenario-based design and the theory of minimalist instruction in HCI.
  • 2004 - Tom Moran, recognized for his collaborative work on the GOMS model and for bridging cognitive psychology with computer science.
  • 2005 - Tom Landauer, acknowledged for his research in cognitive science and his contributions to latent semantic analysis, impacting how we understand language and information retrieval.
  • 2006 - Judith S. Olson and Gary M. Olson, a pioneering couple honored for their extensive work on computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and remote collaboration.
  • 2007 - James D. Foley, recognized for his foundational textbooks and research in computer graphics and user interface design.
  • 2008 - Bill Buxton, honored for his influential work in sketching, prototyping, and the design of musical instruments and interactive systems.
  • 2009 - Sara Kiesler, acknowledged for her research on the social psychological aspects of computer mediation and human-computer interaction.
  • 2010
    • Practice: Karen Holtzblatt, celebrated for co-developing Contextual Design, a widely adopted methodology for user-centered design.
    • Research: Lucy Suchman, recognized for her critical ethnographic studies of human-machine communication and her work on situated action.
  • 2011
    • Practice: Larry Tesler, honored for his pivotal contributions to graphical user interfaces, including copy-paste functionality.
    • Research: Terry Winograd, acknowledged for his foundational work in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and the design of interactive systems.
  • 2012
    • Practice: Joy Mountford, recognized for her leadership in user interface design at Apple and her impact on early multimedia and interactive experiences.
    • Research: Dan R. Olsen, Jr., honored for his contributions to user interface software and tools, particularly in the realm of interactive system development.
  • 2013
    • Practice: Jakob Nielsen, celebrated for his work on web usability, heuristic evaluation, and his widely influential "10 Usability Heuristics."
    • Research: George G. Robertson, acknowledged for his pioneering research in information visualization and interactive 3D environments.
  • 2014
    • Practice: Gillian Crampton Smith, honored for her significant role in establishing interaction design as an academic discipline and practice.
    • Research: Steve Whittaker, recognized for his research on human communication, social media, and the psychology of information management.
    • Special Recognition: Ted Nelson, a visionary who coined the terms "hypertext" and "hypermedia," whose influence on digital information systems is undeniable.
  • 2015
    • Practice: Susan M. Dray, celebrated for her extensive career in usability consulting and her leadership within the HCI community.
    • Research: James D. Hollan, acknowledged for his work on ubiquitous computing, embodied interaction, and cognitive science.
  • 2016
    • Practice: Jeff A. Johnson, recognized for his contributions to graphical user interface design and human-computer interaction textbooks.
    • Research: Robert E. Kraut, honored for his research on social computing, online communities, and the social impact of technology.
  • 2017
    • Practice: Ernest Edmonds, celebrated for his pioneering work in human-computer interaction within the arts and creative industries.
    • Research: Brad A. Myers, acknowledged for his extensive contributions to user interface development environments and tools.
  • 2018
    • Practice: Arnold M. Lund, recognized for his leadership in user experience design and his efforts to integrate HCI into product development.
    • Research: Steven K. Feiner, honored for his foundational research in augmented reality, virtual reality, and interactive graphics.
  • 2019
    • Practice: Daniel Rosenberg, celebrated for his practical contributions to user experience design processes and methodologies.
    • Research: Hiroshi Ishii, acknowledged for his visionary work on Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) and "radical atoms."
  • 2020
    • Practice: David Canfield Smith, recognized for his seminal work on iconic programming and the Star user interface at Xerox PARC.
    • Research: Susan T. Dumais, honored for her extensive research in information retrieval, user modeling, and human information seeking.
  • 2021
    • Practice: John T. Richards, celebrated for his contributions to the practical application of HCI principles in software development.
    • Research: Scott Hudson, acknowledged for his significant work on user interface toolkits and interactive system development.
  • 2022
    • Practice: Steven Pemberton, recognized for his long-standing contributions to web standards and open document formats.
    • Research: Yvonne Rogers, honored for her pioneering research in ubiquitous computing, tangible interaction, and human-centered design.
  • 2023 (5)
    • Practice: Deborah J. Mayhew, celebrated for her impactful work in user interface design and usability engineering methodologies.
    • Research: Gregory Abowd, acknowledged for his foundational contributions to ubiquitous computing, context-aware systems, and human-centered AI.
  • 2024 (6)
    • Practice: Elizabeth Churchill, recognized for her leadership in industry research and her extensive contributions to social computing and collaboration.
    • Research: Susanne Bødker, Jodi Forlizzi, James Landay, Wendy Mackay, honored collectively for their profound and diverse research contributions across various facets of HCI, from participatory design to ubiquitous computing and interaction design.
  • 2025 (7)
    • Research: Paul Dourish, Pattie Maes, recognized for their influential theoretical and practical work, respectively, in areas such as ubiquitous computing, social studies of technology, and tangible and wearable computing.

SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award

This award is a nod to those individuals who have dedicated an inordinate amount of time and effort to the operational machinery of SIGCHI and the broader HCI community. It's for the unsung heroes who keep the conferences running, the publications flowing, and the committees meeting, often with little more than the satisfaction of a job well done.

SIGCHI Social Impact Award

This particular accolade recognizes contributions to human–computer interaction that extend beyond academic papers and prototypes, demonstrating a tangible positive impact on society. It's for those who manage to make technology actually improve something, a concept sometimes lost in the theoretical wilderness.

SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award

A relatively new addition to the awards portfolio, established in 2018, this award spotlights doctoral theses that represent truly exceptional and impactful contributions to the field of human–computer interaction. It's a nod to the next generation of researchers, a recognition of their early, yet often profound, insights.

  • 2018 - Stefanie Mueller and Blase Ur
  • 2019 - Chris Elsden, Anna Maria Feit and Robert Xiao
  • 2020 - Katta Spiel and Paul Strohmeier
  • 2021 - Josh Andres, Arunesh Mathur and Qian Yang
  • 2022 - Aakash Gautam, Fred Hohman and Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken
  • 2023 - Megan Hofmann, Dhruv Jain, Kai Lukoff
  • 2024 - Karan Ahuja, Azra Ismail, Courtney N. Reed, Nicholas Vincent, Yixin Zou
  • 2025 - Leona Holloway, Katerina Stepanova, Anupriya Tuli, Zijie Jay Wang, Nur Yildirim

SIGCHI Executive Committee

The governance of SIGCHI is meticulously structured and delineated by a comprehensive set of by-laws, ensuring a semblance of order in the academic chaos. The core leadership, known as the Elected Officers, comprises the President, the Executive Vice-President, the Vice-President for Membership and Communications, the Vice-President for Finance, and two Vice-Presidents at Large. This formidable group forms the backbone of decision-making. However, the full Executive Committee (EC) extends beyond these elected positions, also incorporating the editors of the various membership publications and several appointed officers. These appointed roles include the Vice-President for Publications, the Vice-President for Conferences (a position of considerable logistical weight), the Vice-President for Chapters, the Vice-President for Operations, and, rather pragmatically, the immediate past Chair, who presumably offers a continuity of institutional memory, or at least a warning of past mistakes.

2009–2012

During this period, the esteemed President overseeing the affairs of SIGCHI was Gerrit van der Veer (8). His term set a course for the organization through a crucial evolutionary phase in HCI.

2012–2015

Gerrit van der Veer continued his presidency for a second term (9), a testament to his sustained leadership and the stability he provided during a period of rapid technological advancement and expanding HCI research frontiers.

2015–2018

The mantle of leadership passed from July 2015 to July 2018 to Loren Terveen, a notable figure from GroupLens Research at the University of Minnesota. Serving alongside him as Vice President was Helena Mentis, representing the University of Maryland Baltimore County (10). This executive pair guided SIGCHI through three years of strategic development and community engagement.

2018–2021

Following her tenure as Vice President, Helena Mentis of the University of Maryland Baltimore County ascended to the presidency of SIGCHI, serving from July 2018 to July 2021. Her Vice President during this term was Cliff Lampe, affiliated with the University of Michigan. Together, they navigated the organization through an era marked by increasing global collaboration and the emergence of new challenges and opportunities in HCI.

2021–2024

The current executive leadership of SIGCHI sees Neha Kumar as President, with Shaowen Bardzell serving as Vice President. This dynamic duo operates as a unified team, having been elected to their respective positions for a three-year term. Their mandate involves steering SIGCHI through contemporary issues such as ethical AI, ubiquitous computing, and inclusive design, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of human–computer interaction discourse.

Sponsored Conferences

Beyond its primary CHI conference, SIGCHI extends its influence by sponsoring or co-sponsoring a diverse array of over 20 specialized conferences. These gatherings delve into particular niches and emerging sub-fields within human–computer interaction, ensuring that no specific area of inquiry is left without its dedicated forum for discussion and, inevitably, copious paper submissions.

  • ACM Conference on Supporting Groupwork (GROUP): Focuses on the challenges and solutions for designing technologies that facilitate collaboration among groups.
  • International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction (TEI): Explores the realm of physical interfaces, interactive objects, and how our bodies interact with technology in the physical world.
  • International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (IUI): Dedicated to the intersection of artificial intelligence and user interface design, exploring how intelligent systems can create more adaptive and personalized user experiences.
  • ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human Robot Interaction (HRI): Addresses the complex and rapidly evolving relationship between humans and robots, from social robotics to collaborative industrial applications.
  • Symposium on Eye Tracking Research and Applications (ETRA): A specialized forum for advances in eye-tracking technology and its diverse applications in HCI, psychology, and beyond.
  • ACM International Conference on Interactive Media Experiences (IMX): Explores the design and study of interactive media across various platforms, from traditional screens to immersive environments.
  • Collective Intelligence (CI): Focuses on how groups of individuals can collectively solve problems or create knowledge, often with technological mediation.
  • Interaction, Design and Children (IDC): Dedicated to the unique challenges and opportunities in designing interactive technologies for children.
  • ACM SIGCHI Symposium on Engineering Interactive Computing Systems (EICS): Emphasizes the engineering aspects of building interactive systems, from tools to methodologies.
  • Designing Interactive Systems Conference (DIS): A premier forum for discussing the art and science of design in HCI, often with a focus on aesthetics, experience, and critical design.
  • International Conference on User Modeling, Adaptation, and Personalization (UMAP): Explores systems that adapt their behavior to individual users or groups, creating more personalized experiences.
  • ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (Ubicomp): Delves into the vision of computing seamlessly integrated into our environments, often disappearing into the background.
  • International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications (AutomotiveUI): Focuses on the specific design and usability challenges within the automotive context, from infotainment to autonomous driving interfaces.
  • ACM Conference on Recommender Systems (RecSys): Dedicated to the theory and application of recommender systems, which suggest items or information to users.
  • International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services (MobileHCI): Specifically addresses the unique aspects of interaction design for mobile platforms and ubiquitous access to services.
  • Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Explores how technology can facilitate collaboration and coordination among people, whether co-located or distributed.
  • ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST): A highly selective conference for novel user interface software and hardware, often showcasing groundbreaking interaction techniques.
  • International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (ICMI): Focuses on interfaces that combine multiple modalities of input (e.g., speech, gesture, gaze) and output for richer interaction.
  • Symposium on Spatial User Interaction (SUI): Explores interaction techniques and systems that leverage 3D space, relevant for VR, AR, and spatial computing.
  • ACM Symposium and Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST): Dedicated to advances in virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality hardware, software, and applications.
  • Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (CHIPLAY): Focuses on the role of play in HCI, including game design, playful interactions, and gamification.
  • Interactive Surfaces and Spaces (ISS): Explores the design and development of interactive surfaces, from large displays to tabletops, and their integration into physical spaces.
  • Creativity and Cognition (C&C): Examines the intersection of computing, creativity, and cognitive processes, often exploring how technology can augment human creative endeavors.

Grants

In a gesture of what one might call strategic generosity, SIGCHI allocates resources through various grant programs, presumably to ensure the continued flourishing of its academic ecosystem. These funds are designed to empower the community, catalyze growth, and facilitate the essential, if sometimes tedious, act of communication among scholars.

  • SIGCHI Development Fund: This fund is specifically intended to support initiatives that are spearheaded by local communities. The primary goal is to spur communication and collaboration among these localized groups, fostering a sense of collective purpose and knowledge sharing, or at least giving them a reason to gather.
  • SIGCHI Early Career Mentoring fund: Recognizing the precarious journey of nascent academics, this fund is established to provide support for early-career scholars. It enables their participation in meetings specifically designed for mentorship, offering guidance and networking opportunities that are often crucial for survival in the academic landscape.
  • SIGCHI Student Travel Grants: Acknowledging the financial barriers that often prevent aspiring researchers from attending conferences, these grants provide students with the invaluable opportunity to attend any of the SIGCHI Conferences. It ensures that the next generation of HCI experts can engage with current research, present their own work, and perhaps even experience the crushing reality of academic networking firsthand.