The Human-Machine Communication Interest Group supports and promotes scholarship regarding communication between people and technologies designed to enact the role of communicators (i.e., artificial intelligence (AI), robots, digital assistants, smart and Internet of Things (IoT) devices). HMC encompasses research within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), and Human-Agent Interaction (HAI) and related areas of study focused on how people make sense of machines as communicators; the implications of people’s interactions with communicative technology for individuals, organizations, and society; and the philosophical and critical critique of the design of these technologies and their integration into daily life. HMC also includes the study of the discourse surrounding communicative technologies and people’s communication with them. The HMC Interest Group is inclusive of the different theoretical and methodological approaches in communication research.
News
HMC Pre-Conference and HMC at the ICA’s Annual Conference 2023 in Toronto
The HMC Pre-Conference took place on May 25, 2023, at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto, preceding the annual ICA Meeting. The program can be found at https://humanmachinecommunication.org/pre-post-conferences. The response was overwhelming, and we sincerely thank everyone for their intriguing and inspiring contributions. Following this Pre-Conference, there will be a multi-author paper, co-written by the organizers and participants. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the HMC Journal, which has generously provided a space for this collaborative writing experiment.
The IG HMC also had a robust presence at the ICA’s Annual Conference (May 26 to May 30). All sessions were well-attended, and as our Chair, Chad Edwards, stated, “Almost every panel was a standing room only, with many people from other divisions interested in the work of this community. […] Each year, the papers seem to get stronger and stronger.” Our special thanks go to Jihyun Kim (Vice-Chair), who masterfully planned all of this year’s incredible sessions. Also, thanks to Katrin Etzrodt (Social Media and Web Engagement), who did much work getting the word out about the HMC sessions.
A brief overview in terms of numbers can be found here https://humanmachinecommunication.org/main-conference-2021.
We bid farewell to our outgoing officers and extend a warm welcome to our incoming officers
We extend our deepest gratitude to Margot van der Goot, Carmina Rodríguez Hidalgo, and Hannah Mieczkowski, each of whom has significantly contributed to our organization in their respective roles.
- Margot van der Goot diligently served as our Secretary, keeping our meetings organized and our communication streamlined. Her dedication to detail and efficiency has been integral to our operations.
- Carmina Rodríguez Hidalgo, as our International Liaison, has been instrumental in establishing and maintaining key global connections. Her efforts have greatly enriched our international perspective and collaborations.
- Hannah Mieczkowski, our Student & Early Career Representative, has been the vital bridge between us and our student and early career community. Her dedication and initiative have greatly supported and enhanced the opportunities available for those at the start of their careers.
We can’t thank them enough for their invaluable contributions and commitment to their roles.
We’re also thrilled at this time to introduce our new officers.
- Andrew Prahl is stepping into the role of Secretary. We look forward to the organization and direction he’ll bring to our meetings and communications.
- Caroline van Straten is our new Student and Early Career Representative. We’re excited for the fresh perspectives and energy she’ll bring in supporting and advocating for our student and early career community.
- Kun Xu is joining us as our International Liaison. His experience and vision will be instrumental in fostering and maintaining our important international relationships and collaborations.
We warmly welcome them to their new roles and eagerly anticipate the innovative contributions they will bring to our organization.
Election of Vice-Chair for HMC Interest Group (2023)
Thank you to those that reached out about running for the incoming Vice-Chair position. We will have a strong slate of candidates. We will have many more positions next year.
Elections will be tentatively scheduled for late summer/early Fall 2023. We will be keeping you updated on the details via email and social media. Please note, only ICA members are eligible to vote. Therefore, it’s crucial to renew your membership to ensure your voice is heard.
Links
MEMBERSHIP
https://www.icahdq.org/group/hmc
Join now! Official members of the group will receive information about calls and events. Members also have voting rights and can run for office.
When renewing your ICA membership or joining ICa for the first time, select Human-Machine Communication from the list of Interest Groups and Divisions
SHARE INFORMATION
HMC AT ICA’S “THE LINK”
https://link.icahdq.org/thelinkhome
Connecting you with peers to share strategic advice, solve challenges and develop new approaches. Sign in, select the IG “Human-Machine Communication”, and start sharing.
HMC SCHOLARS E‑MAIL LIST
[email protected]
The list addresses international scholars interested in human-machine communication (HMC), or the study of communication with a host of technologies, including HCI, HAI, and HRI. The purpose of this list is to share announcements relevant to the community including CfPs for conferences and publications.
HMC JOURNAL
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hmc
Designed as an international, interdisciplinary hub, Human-Machine Communication will publish high-impact scholarship examining human-machine communication from a breadth of methodological, theoretical, and philosophical/critical angles to bring further visibility, legitimacy, and community to this newly emergent locus of scholarly and public interest. The journal is the result of collective organizing around recent pre-conferences and workshops at the International Communication Association (ICA), Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR), and ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). It is clear there is tremendous scholarly energy converging around this topic matter.