Information Tools

Affiliate Positions

  • Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Washington, Department of Human-Centered Design and Engineering
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Washington, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering
  • Research Affiliate, CERES Research Center

Specializations

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Ubiquitous Computing
  • User-Centered Design

Research Areas

Biography

Alexis Hiniker is an Associate Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington and Director of the User Empowerment Lab. Through her work in human-computer interaction and ubiquitous computing, she investigates the ways in which everyday technologies make life worse for their users. Hiniker combines user-centered design methods with theory from a variety of disciplines to design, implement and evaluate new technical systems. Her current projects focus on compulsive technology use, dark patterns, voice interfaces, and arguments online. She has a PhD in Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington, an M.A. in Learning, Design and Technology from Stanford University, and an A.B. in Computer Science from Harvard University.

Education

  • Ph D, Human Centered Design and Engineering, University of Washington, 2017
  • MA, Learning, Design and Technology, Stanford University, 2012
  • BA, Computer Science, Harvard University, 2005

Awards

  • Societal Impact Award - ACM SIGCHI, 2025
  • Best Paper Award (top 1%) - ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI), 2024
  • Most Influential Scholar in HCI, Honorable Mention - AMiner, 2024
  • Jacobs Foundation Early Career Fellow (top 2%) - Jacobs Foundation, 2020-2023
  • Best Paper Award (top 1%) - ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI), 2023
  • Best paper honorable mention (top 5%) - CHI conference, 2023
  • Google Research Scholar Award - Google, 2023
  • Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor nominee - University of Washington, 2023
  • Most Influential Scholar in HCI, Honorable Mention - AMiner, 2023
  • Digital Leader nominee - Globant Women that Build, 2022
  • Most Influential Scholar in HCI, Honorable Mention - AMiner, 2022
  • Special Recognition for Outstanding Reviews - CHI Conference, 2022
  • Best Paper Award (top 1%) - ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI), 2019
  • Jacobs Foundation Early Career Fellowship Finalist - Jacobs Foundation, 2019
  • Special Recognition for Outstanding Reviews - ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI), 2019
  • Facebook Fellowship finalist, 2016-2017
  • Microsoft Research Fellowship finalist, 2016-2017
  • Sesame Workshop Dissertation Fellowship, 2016-2017
  • Best paper nomination for "Evaluating an iPad Game..." (top 7 papers) - ASSETS conference, 2017
  • Best paper nomination for "Play & Play..." (top 3 papers [< 3%]) - IDC conference, 2017
  • Best paper honorable mention (top 5%) - CHI conference, 2016
  • Society of Women Engineers Outstanding Female Award - University of Washington, 2016
  • Special Recognition Award for exceptional reviewing - CHI conference, 2016
  • Google Anita Borg Scholarship, 2013-2014
  • Shobe Prize for student entrepreneurs, 2012-2013
  • Children’s Technology Review Award for Excellence in Design - Children’s Technology Review, 2013
  • Parents’ Choice Gold Award for Best Mobile App - Parents’ Choice, 2013
  • University of Washington Student Research Award (one per department) - University of Washington, 2013
  • Women’s Net Amber Grant Award - Women’s Net, 2013
  • Duca Fund Master’s Project Grant - Stanford University, 2012
  • University of Washington Kenney Fellowship, 2012
  • School of Education Tuition Fellowship - Stanford University, 2011
  • Harvard Faculty Scholar - Harvard University, 2005
  • Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching - Harvard University, 2005
  • Nominee for the Derek C. Bok Award for excellence in teaching - Harvard University, 2005
  • Harvard Faculty Scholar - Harvard University, 2004
  • Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching - Harvard University, 2004
  • Nominee for the Derek C. Bok Award for excellence in teaching - Harvard University, 2004
  • Harvard Faculty Scholar - Harvard University, 2003
  • John Harvard Honorary Scholar - Harvard University, 2002

Publications and Contributions

Presentations

  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI): Bridging the Gap between People and Technology (2024)
    Winter Quarter Power Hour, Women in Informatics - Seattle, WA
  • Why We Really Fear AI Friendship (2024)
    Shaping the Future: Exploring the Impact of Generative AI on Youth, Microsoft AI - Virtual
  • Designing for Children in the Attention Economy (2021)
    Invited White House Executive Briefing, Joint Meeting of the Domestic Policy Committee and the Science & Technology Committee - Virtual
  • Designing for Children in the Attention Economy (2021)
    Harvard Digital Wellness Lab - Cambridge, MA
  • Addressing Present Bias in Movie Recommender Systems and Beyond (2020)
    Cognitive Bias in People and Computing Systems Workshop - 38th annual ACM conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI '20) - Virtual
  • Is the Internet Making us Miserable? (2020)
    Humanities of Washington Think & Drink - Seattle, WA
  • Remote research methods (2020)
    Joan Ganz Cooney Center - Virtual
  • Don't Make the World Worse, and Other Advice from the User Empowerment Lab (2019)
    Pioneer Square Venture Labs - Seattle, WA
  • Screenagers (2019)
    Parent Education Night, Whittier Elementary - Seattle, WA
  • Childhood Play in a UbiComp World (2018)
    HCI Designing for People Seminar Series, University of British Columbia - Vancouver, BC
  • Designing for Children’s Mealtime: Opportunities for Playful IoT (2018)
    Internet of Tangible Things Workshop at the 36th annual ACM conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI ’18) - Montreal, Quebec
  • Designing for Evil: Blending Ethics and Design in Informatics (2018)
    Founding Board Annual Lunch - Seattle, WA
  • Don’t Make the World Worse, and Other Advice from the User Empowerment Lab (2018)
    dub Retreat - Seattle, WA
  • LGBTQ Privacy Concerns on Social Media (2018)
    Moving Beyond a “One-Size Fits All” Approach: Exploring Individual Differences in Privacy Workshop at the 36th annual ACM conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI ’18) - Montreal, Quebec
  • Living up to ‘Don’t be Evil’ When Designing Platforms (2018)
    AI+People Group, Google - Seattle, WA
  • The Stamp Plate and the Kicking Chair: Playful Productivity for Mealtime in Preschools (2018)
    17th Interaction Design and Children Conference - Trondheim, Norway
  • User Frustration with ‘User Engagement’: Intentional and Mindless Technology Use (2018)
    University of Washington dub Seminar - Seattle, Washington
  • User Frustration with ‘User Engagement’: Intentional and Mindless Technology Use (2018)
    Stanford University Human-Computer Interaction Seminar - Stanford, California
  • Voice Assistants, UX Design and Research (2018)
    36th annual ACM conference on human factors in computing systems (CHI ’18) - Montreal, Quebec
  • Why doesn't it work?: Voice-driven interfaces and young children's communication repair strategies (2018)
    17th Interaction Design and Children Conference - Trondheim, Norway
  • Early Childhood, Families, & Technology (2017)
    Infant and Early Childhood Conference - Tacoma, Washington
  • Research on Pokemon GO and Ingress at the University of Washington (2017)
    Invited talk at Niantic Labs for CEO and founder, and senior management - US
  • Kindness and computer science (2016)
    Puget Sound Computer Science Teachers’ Association annual high school programming competition - WA
  • Texting While Parenting: How Adults Use Mobile Phones when Caring for Children at the Playground (2014)
    Puget Sound World Usability Day - WA
  • Go Go Games: Therapeutic Video Games for Children with Autism (2013)
    Human Centered Design and Engineering Corporate Affiliates Day - WA
  • Interpersonal Design: How Technology Undermines Users' Interpersonal Relationships and What Designers Can Do About It
    Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering Faculty Seminar - Seattle, WA