How can we model human task performance? How do our brains combine visual and auditory information? What is the ideal interface for a tired air traffic controller?
The Human-Machine Communication (HMC) programme from the University of Groningen provides you with insights into human cognition and teaches you to use this knowledge in applied settings, such as tutoring systems, speech technology and human-computer interaction.
Two questions form the basis for this programme:
- How does human cognition work?
- How can we use this knowledge in applied settings?
To answer these questions, you have to know how humans perform specific tasks and how this performance limits and affects task performance. How do humans acquire new skills and how do they learn to adapt to a new task? It is important to know in which way information is transferred; the most natural way of human communication is language. But what about machines? Maybe keyboards, choice menus or multi-touch are more suitable.
Job prospects
Once you have obtained your Master's degree, you can then use your skills in industrial research & development departments or usability labs, where you make sure that knowledge about human thinking and acting is used as early as possible in the design process.
In companies where computer software and new media applications are made, user interface design experts, usability testers and interaction designers are needed. If you have specialised in the field of speech and language technology, you can for instance get a job at a telecommunication company.
You could also choose to get a job at a research institute where you work as a researcher. This can be done at a university (PhD studentship) or at a research institute like TNO. About 50% of our students choose a career as a scientist, mostly as PhD student.
