Edinburgh Napier University

  The 31st British Human Computer Interaction Conference was held between the 3rd and 6th July 2017 at the University of Sunderland’s St. Peter’s Campus. The conference was organised by the HCI research groups at the University of Sunderland and Napier University in conjunction with the Interaction Specialist Group of BCS.

The BCS HCI 2017 conference theme was digital make-believe, with delegates considering our expansive, “what-if” thinking typical of HCI. The conference included make-believe when we design innovative technology; the make-believe when we immerse ourselves in a computer game or virtual world; and the make-believe when we evaluate and refine new technology by imagining ourselves using it.

At HCI 2017 we engaged researchers, practitioners, creative businesses, makers, artists and developers in exploring, inspiring, creating and evaluating digital make-believe in topic areas both within and outside HCI.

The 31st British Computer Society Human Computer Interaction Conference was held between the 3rd and 6th July 2017 at the University of Sunderland, UK. The conference was organised by the HCI research groups at the University of Sunderland and Edinburgh Napier University in conjunction with the Interaction Specialist Group of the BCS.

Our conference aimed to provide inclusion, inspiration and collaboration generating fusion and Innovation in the HCI and Creative Sector. Our theme was digital make-believe, with delegates considering our expansive, “what-if” thinking typical of HCI and our goal was to engage and fuse researchers, practitioners, creative businesses, makers, artists and developers in HCI.

Presenters and delegates included researchers at all stages, from undergraduates to Professors, along with practitioners, artists and those working in the creative sector. BCS-HCI included workshops on user requirements and sensitive participatory design. A Doctoral Consortium provided students with the opportunity for discussion and debate. Our Maker Day aimed to foster fused, creative innovation and provided an effective approach to exploring make-believe, with the outcomes displayed at the conference.

Our opening and closing keynotes, Beryl Graham and Elisabeth Andre, explored changing experiences and interactivity in digital make believe. We held sessions on innovation and creative fusion with a keynote from Johnathan Sapsed and on the future of HCI with Timandra Harkness, who chaired an industry panel of leading HCI SMEs.

Our paper sessions covered users and interaction across the lifecycle, presenting methods, experiences, evaluations and perspectives. Papers included how researchers were exploring, inspiring, creating and evaluating digital make-believe in topic areas both within and outside HCI. The Interactions Gallery displayed exhibits and experiences, including immersive storytelling, interactive art and innovative devices and interaction approaches. In addition, a diverse range of topics were presented in our poster exhibition.



Lynne Hall, Tom Flint, Suzy O'Hara and Phil Turner



Proceedings Editors