Our research mission is to expand the understanding of human experience and interactive technologies through basic and applied research that is responsive to manifest real-world needs using multi-disciplinary collaboration drawing on varied perspectives.
M-ITI has focused its HCI research on the development and improvement of devices to assist elderly individuals in coping with various physical limitations and disabilities, such as strokes. In particular, Neurorehabilitation involving Augmented Reality and Serious Gaming, put at the service of the population in hospitals.
M-ITI is developing new tools to analyse trends in tourism and marketing and complement this with a transmedia experience that can stimulate local economies and engage the community with exciting cultural interventions.
With Virtual and Augmented Reality, new approaches have been investigated for museums, environmental education, citizen science and alternative means of communication.
Technology is typically driven by some of the most powerful actors in society, including governments and corporations. As an instrument of those most highly capitalised in society, it reproduces the status quo. Researchers at M-ITI are looking into ways of developing alternative configurations of technology that literally redistribute societal power, while at the same time making visible the regressiveness of mainstream engineering discourse.
Using advanced ICT, M-ITI has developed technology that is playing a significant role in improving the carbon footprint of cities and promoting more intelligent uses of energy. Research projects have led to systems that monitor household energy consumption, contributing to more sustainable cities.
With active research projects in Uganda, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, and growing ties to other countries, M-ITI is looking at how to design technology with and for people in the Global South. Grounded less in development discourse than intra-community communications needs, social and environmental justice, local autonomy, and postcolonial theory, these technologies are rigorously tested and already positively assisting tens of thousands of people.
Many companies have relied on M-ITI’s researchers to define new approaches and concepts for their interactions. New software products have achieved success in incorporating ideas stemming from excellent science, widespread use and seamless integration. Research has been devoted to enhancing UX, i.e. improving attractiveness and satisfaction of new technology to people, leading to wider adoption.
Operating in the interdisciplinary domain of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), we aim to mix contributions from the disciplines of computer science, psychology and social sciences, and design.
Meeting the goal of engaging in important scientific and social challenges, can be attained by working with and developing emergent technologies and delivering disruptive innovation.
The location of M-ITI provides a unique setting to deploy a Living Lab for Interactive Technologies, where systems and services can be designed, implemented and tested using collaborative frameworks.
Our Critical Technical Practice Lab was conceived to improve the innovation performance based on an open innovation model that leverages Madeira as an international living lab for testing innovative interactive technologies and their social impacts.
M-ITI is a competitive institute that aims to be the best in research and education. In order to be successful, the institute actively seeks to collaborate with both academic and industrial partners. Our collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University is strategic and has resulted in great opportunities in research projects as well as in educational projects within the context of the MHCI program.
