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Three student projects from the University of Waterloo Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business will be showcased at the Lights On Stratford festival, running until January 19, 2025. These projects, part of the GBDA 412 – Special Topics in Media Architecture course, highlight the students' ability to merge technology and the arts.

Under the guidance of David Han, students created interactive installations reflecting on local, non-human activity. The top three projects selected are:

1. A Living Entity: Animates the Avon River, emphasizing its future significance.
2. Nocturnal Visions: Highlights the roles and behaviors of nocturnal animals.
3. Fungi: Beyond the Eye: Explores the hidden world of local fungi roots (mycelium).

The course emphasizes thorough research and iterative feedback, culminating in a final presentation to a panel of community representatives.

Professors Karen Cochrane and Daniel Harley from Stratford are using Generative AI (GenAI) to create customizable gaming controllers for individuals with complex disabilities. Dr. Cochrane's collaboration with caregivers plays a crucial role in designing these accessible solutions, ensuring they meet the unique needs of users. Their project, awarded by the Google Academic Research Awards (GARA), aims to enhance accessibility and social inclusion through low-cost, user-friendly technology. By leveraging their combined expertise in physical computing and gaming interaction, Dr. Harley and Dr. Cochrane are developing innovative solutions that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. The project will receive up to $150,000 USD in funding and support from Google, highlighting a future where technology fosters a more inclusive gaming experience.

In their paper, The Great AI Witch Hunt: Reviewers’ Perception and (Mis)Conception of Generative AI in Research Writing, researchers at the Stratford School studied the impact of AI-augmented writing on peer reviews, a formal part of academic research validation. The researchers found that AI-augmented writing improved readability, language diversity, and informativeness; it also often lacked research details and reflective insights from authors in their samples of writing from top-tier Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) conferences. 

Dr. Kim de Laat’s article “Remote Work and Post-Bureaucracy: Unintended Consequences of Work Design for Gender Inequality” wasselected as a nominee for the 2024 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Research Excellence in Work and Family.

Dr. Lennart Nacke has accomplished exceptional academic accolades and scholarly breakthroughs to receive the prestigious title of University Research Chair.

The University of Waterloo will host local high school students from Huron-Perth at their inaugural MVP Challenge – a one-day design and business challenge – to provide high school students with a free opportunity to experience the post-secondary education available to them locally.

Stratford School’s 2024 Design Jam challenged students to design digital platforms where the user experience (UX)  can help destigmatize mental health.

Map the System is a global challenge hosted by Oxford University that tasks students with mapping a problem using systems-thinking tools. Students will pitch their completed "map" of their problem to a panel of judges, with the winners receiving cash prizes and the opportunity to represent the University of Waterloo at the Canadian Finals in Calgary.

A chat with CPI member Leah Zhang-Kennedy about making her own mark in the globally impactful field of cybersecurity and privacy as an Assistant Professor in interaction design and user experience research, and director of the Safe Interactions Lab at the University of Waterloo’s Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business.

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The study published by Waterloo researcher Kim de Laat and team outlines cultural and structural barriers, representation in leadership positions, income and the work environment, and an investment in equity as opportunities for progress.