About Us - An Introduction to GatewayCHI
What is CHI?
CHI refers to Computer-Human Interactions. Computer professionals working in the field of computer-human interactions typically are trying to improve computer screen design, but their work also impacts documentation, online help, or anything that people use directly in using their computers.
Why have this kind of organization in St. Louis?
Most systems and software in the industry have a huge opportunity to improve computer-human interactions. In many cases, organizations will assume that project teams or programmers will design adequate interfaces without directly involving the true end-users as early as possible. When they introduce the final product, inevitably the users require significant training and find that the software lacks an important piece of functionality. Methods such as usability testing, contextual inquiry, and paper prototyping have provided dramatic improvements not only to the usability of software, but to the overall costs of product development and support.
Across the United States, thousands of people participate in societies devoted to improving the user interfaces of systems and software. SIGCHI acts as one of the largest organizations of this kind. The local chapters in Boston and San Francisco each have over 500 members.
GatewayCHI endeavors to spread the word about the methods and practices for improving user interfaces, and to support any efforts for our membership to incorporate such practices at their own workplaces.
Who should join?
In short, anyone interested. Some of the people that have shown a direct interest in this field include programmers, technical writers, software engineers, systems analysts, screen designers, web designers, trainers, human factors specialists, academicians..... (insert your job title here!) Anybody with an interest in seeing software satisfy its end-users should join.
What is SIGCHI?
ACM (the Association of Computing Machinery) has a Special Interest Group for Computer-Human Interactions. SIGCHI keeps its membership up-to-date on the latest technologies and methods that improve the quality of interactions between people and computers.
Besides having a large annual conference, SIGCHI has local chapters around the world. GatewayCHI membership has recently agreed that we are ready to move forward and become an official SIGCHI chapter.
How can I get involved?
If you would like to be on the membership list, receive notice of society activities, or wish help out, please contact the GatewayCHI at . A small membership fee is required (view our Membership page for details). Membership in ACM is not necessary.