StealthGPT

I first became interested in human-computer interaction when I sat next to my grandfather and watched him struggle to book a medical appointment through a website. The site contained all of the necessary information, but small text, confusing drop-down menus, and unclear error messages overwhelmed him. As I sat next to my grandpa and helped him get the appointment booked, I started to think about why technology, which is meant to make everyday tasks easier, can make them harder for some people. That question sparked an interest in me to learn about how we can design technology that is effective and inclusive for everyone.

The idea of human-computer interaction appeals to me because it is a combination of technical problem-solving with an emphasis on people. A program can be efficient and reliable, but if people don’t understand it or don’t trust it, it doesn’t function well. This idea encourages us to do research to understand people’s needs and expectations, question assumptions, and think about issues of accessibility, privacy, and simplicity. Human-computer interaction provides systematic approaches for improving technology and addressing common challenges that people encounter when they interact with technology. I’m excited to learn about these approaches and think about how we can translate everyday problems into better technology.

In particular, I hope to learn about how to engage with users who have a wide range of technical abilities, knowledge, and interests throughout the process. It is important to have a mindset of humility and active listening before creating technology. Additionally, I’m interested in learning about user-centered design because it encourages us to explore how people use technology outside of lab settings, which is an important measure of a product’s success. Interface design appeals to me because it encourages us to be creative and flexible; we have to pose interesting questions, create solutions to those questions, and change our plans in light of data and results. Through this iterative design process, we learn to see failure as an opportunity to learn.

I want to study human-computer interaction because I’m eager to learn about how we can create technology that empowers and respects all of its users. I hope to apply my interest and knowledge to technology that plays an integral role in our lives such as healthcare and education or to novel technologies that have not yet reached its potential. Ultimately, I would consider my work in HCI successful if it leads to experiences where people (such as my grandpa) can perform important tasks confidently and independently.