Human-Engaged Computing

This book introduces Human-Engaged Computing (HEC), a pioneering thought that reimagines the relationship between humans and computers. Unlike traditional Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), HEC offers a philosophical and practical foundation for designing technologies that prioritize human survival, flourishing, and spiritual growth.

HEC represents a paradigm shift, positioning technology as a medium to enhance human capacities rather than simply as a tool. Central to the HEC thought is the Human Capacity Framework, which integrates Biophysics, Intellect, and Xin. Xin/心, a concept rooted in Eastern philosophy, emphasizes inward transcendence and harmony—dimensions often neglected in conventional HCI approaches. By addressing pressing issues such as digital alienation and mental health challenges, this book provides a unified design philosophy that fosters human well-being and enlightenment. The book is structured into two parts: theoretical foundations and practical case studies. Together, these sections guide readers in creating innovative computational designs that open new pathways for technological advancement while prioritizing human-centered values.

This book is a must-read for professionals and students across diverse fields, including HCI, computer science, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Policymakers concerned with technology’s societal impact will also find it invaluable.

Key features:

• Integrates Eastern "Xin" philosophy, redefining human–computer relations beyond traditional Western HCI for enhanced well-being.
• Presents a holistic Human Capacity Framework (Biophysics–Intellect–Xin), crucial for designing technology that truly elevates human potential.
• Addresses "Antibiosis," technology’s negative impacts on human survival, offering a theoretical lens for sustainable design.
• Provides concrete design principles for "Engaging Computers," fostering human awareness and enlightenment through future technology.
• Inspires and envisions new paradigms and possibilities for HCI, AI, ICT, and the general design of artifacts.

Part I
1. Introduction
2. The Position of Human-Engaged Computing
3. Introducing Human-Engaged Computing
4. Interpretation of Human-Engaged Computing - Part I
5. Interpretation of Human-Engaged Computing - Part II
6. General Principles for Designing Engaging Computers
7. The Future of HEC
Part II
8. Embracing Human-Engaged AI: Alignment and Enlightenment
9. Synergizing Human Capacities and Technology with Attention Regulation
10. Human-Vehicle Interaction from the Perspective of Human-Engaged Computing
11. Towards a More-Than-Human-Centered Design Perspective: A New Dimension
12. Information Interaction from a HEC Perspective
13. Design for Community Engagement: Empowering from Within with a
14. Human-Engaged Computing Empowers Education: A Framework for Student
15. HEC Theory and Game Design: Reflection, Framework, and Case Study
16. Conclusion

Xiangshi Ren is a lifetime tenured professor in the School of Informatics and was the founding director (2012–2024) of the Center for Human-Engaged Computing (CHEC) at Kochi University of Technology, Japan. He is a member of the Engineering Academy of Japan (EAJ) and a fellow of the Information Processing Society of Japan (IPSJ). He is also a senior member of both ACM and IEEE. He is the founding president and honorary lifetime president of the International Chinese Association of Computer Human Interaction (ICACHI) and was named an Asian Human-Computer Interaction Hero at ACM CHI 2015.

Prof. Ren has been working on fundamental studies in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) for over 35 years. His research interests include all aspects of Human-Computer Interaction, particularly human performance models, pen-based interaction, multi-touch interaction, eye-based interaction, haptic interaction, gesture input, game interaction, mindfulness interaction, user interfaces for older users and for people with visual impairments. Over the past decade, he and his colleagues have established Human-Engaged Computing (HEC), a new conceptual framework for rethinking the relationship between humans and computers. He has published over 300 research papers, with major findings appearing in top-tier journals and international conferences. He has received multiple prestigious paper awards, including the ACM CHI 2017 Best Paper Award, ACM CHI 2019 Honourable Mention Award, IEEE SmartComp 2017 Best Community Paper Award, and ACM ISS 2016 Best Paper Award. He has mentored numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from diverse international backgrounds, who are now active in HCI research and education across various continents. His Chinese book Human-Engaged Computing was published by Tsinghua University Press.

Dr. Chen Wang is an Associate Professor at Shanghai University of Engineering Science, China. He currently serves as both a Board Member of ICACHI and the Chair of its Youth Committee. He earned his Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from Kochi University of Technology in Japan, under the supervision of Professor Xiangshi Ren. Dr. Wang's primary research interests lie in Human-Engaged Computing (HEC) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Over the past decade, he has collaborated closely with Professor Ren on HEC through an extensive portfolio of publications, books, and the organization of international workshops. He aims to apply the broadly integrative theoretical framework of HEC to a prospective next generation operating system-level user interface architecture.

"What has struck me the most, what I find to be at the living heart of all of this work, is the earnest, thoughtful, and creative commitment to nurturing human capability... Capability and engagement are not used as buzzwords, but rather as ideas that are worthy of our best thoughts, sustained over time - and that is precisely what Dr. Ren has offered to us... What could we be doing if we set our sights higher - a lot higher - than making a good app or task sequence? What we could be doing is human-engaged computing."

- Jeffrey Bardzell, Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Chief AI Officer, Professor and former Dean of the School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, USA.

"Fifty years of research have shown me HCI's growth from its origins to a cornerstone of the PC era and now a vital AI technology. Yet current theories face a bottleneck amid accelerating change and rising uncertainty. Eastern thinking is increasingly important. This book explores Human-Engaged Computing to understand humans and technology through Xin/心. I encourage readers to appreciate its holistic vision of human-computer relationships and sustainable civilization. This understanding may inspire the next technological paradigm. Through HEC, I hope HCI, AI, and related fields will together foster humanity’s sustainable prosperity."

- Guozhong Dai, Professor, Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

"This text asks us to engage with a new way of thinking about HCI - how "human-engaged computing" (HEC) can evolve technology design to the next level. An emerging philosophical approach within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), HEC goes beyond merely designing usable or human-centered systems – HEC aims for a synergistic relationship between humans and technological systems. Ren and colleagues will lead you through why a new framing for HCI and HCAI and why an HEC focus matters to us all. This volume will give you a framework to step you through the next revolution of how humans will interact with computation."

- Elizabeth Churchill, Department Chair and Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, MBZUAI, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

"Amongst so much Western-centred literature in the field of HCI, it is compelling to read the work of Professor Ren and colleagues, as experts with access to a philosophical starting point that challenges these dominant narratives. We have not been talking enough about "Xin", but now we have a word for the spiritual and existential dynamics that are increasingly of interest in a rapidly changing world."

- Ann Light, Professor of Design & Creative Technology, University of Sussex, UK

"At a time when technology risks hollowing out our sense of connection, this book shines with the Eastern spirit of 心. Professor Ren and colleagues remind us that our digital future cannot be built on speed and efficiency alone, but on cultivating harmony, connection, and wellbeing. Human-Engaged Computing offers an urgent and hopeful compass for reimagining the digital age."

- Naomi Yamashita, Professor, Social Informatics, Kyoto University, Japan

"Despite the continuous advancement of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, the increasingly prominent challenges at both the individual and societal levels are constantly reshaping the trajectory of technological innovation. This book systematically presents the development history, core connotations, theoretical framework, and practical applications of human-engaged computing. By building a bridge between cultural core and technological development, it greatly expands the future possibilities in the field of human-computer interaction. We firmly believe that human-engaged computing will surely open up a broader and deeper territory of innovation in the future."

- Yingqing Xu, Professor, Director of The Future Laboratory, Tsinghua University, China

"HEC is Prof. Ren’s invitation to express your best creative self through technological design which assumes and affirms the human ability to do immense good when not disabled or displaced by technologies. An HEC approach to design seeks to discover, enhance and apply our best human capabilities for the wellbeing of humanity in the whole scheme of existence. HEC wisely assumes that the value and sustainability of technology are wholly dependent on its faithfulness to human values and human sustainability. Without humanity, technology has no pulse, no soul, no compassion, no market, no future. Thus, the most useful and the most beautiful technologies are those that value, engage and enhance humans in their responsibilities to each other and their environments."

- John Cahill, English Consultant, Brisbane, Australia