Student Chapters provide a plethora of opportunities for networking, mentoring, and bonding over professional common interests. They provide support both within the institution student community and local communities outside the institution. At IIIT Bangalore, a group of students under the guidance of Prof Preeti Mudliar started an Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group for Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI). Prof. Preeti Mudliar explains, “Design enters the conversation at IIIT Bangalore via the IT and Society domain of which the Masters in Digital Society program is an integral part. Carving a niche for social science and design conversations at an Engineering Institute is challenging, but also essential, it contributes to a more well rounded understanding of what makes for successful and inclusive products and services. For students, it is an opportunity to be exposed to a wider range of conversations that inform, interrogate, and critique technology’s role in the society. The IIIT Bangalore ACM SIGCHI Student Chapter is a platform for students to take ownership and direct this conversation in ways that enhance their learning and growth as technology professionals. With the launch of this chapter, we have also now given Bangalore the unique distinction of being the only city in India with two active SIGCHI student chapters. One at the Srishti Institute of Art and Design and one at IIIT Bangalore.”
The IIITB ACM SIGCHI aims to engage students in thinking about technology design beyond interfaces and cosmetic software developments and includes human experiences and aspirations as well.
ACM being the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. ACM brings together computing educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field’s challenges. As the world’s largest computing society, ACM strengthens the profession’s collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life‐long learning, career development, and professional networking. The Chapter will be geared towards nurturing students into becoming conscious designers and researchers. This transformational journey would include discussions, tutorials, workshops and much more that would enrich the perspective toward design. It aims to give a 360-degree world view of how the systems work and the relevance the design holds.
On January 25, IIITB ACM SIGCHI was launched at the campus and the event was graced by our Director, Prof. Debabrata Das, and Registrar Commodore SR Sridhar. Prof. Preeti Mudliar explained the significance of the IIIT Bangalore ACM SIGCHI student chapter. The event was attended by faculty, staff and students of IIITB. The launch event also comprised an insightful panel discussion by an eminent design team from Samsung R&D Institute, Bangalore comprising, Mr. Amit Chowdhury, Head of Design, Mr. Satish Patil, General Manager, Wearable IoT UX and Mr. Biju Neyyan, General Manager, Voice UX and was moderated by Prof. Preeti Mudliar. The discussion addressed a gamut of topics, right from SRI-B’s approach toward design and research to developing personas for older adults.
The IIIT Bangalore ACM SIGCHI Student Chapter Organizing Committee comprises of Taru Jain, MS by Research, IT& Society, President Iyas Abdurrahman, M.Sc. Digital Society, Vice President Kartik Joshi, MS by Research, IT & Society, Treasurer, Pranshu Anand, M.Sc. Digital Society, Creative Head, Vidhi Doshi, M.Sc. Digital Society, Webmaster Arushi Preet Kaur, M.Sc. Digital Society, Social Media Operations Head Vatsal Dhama, iMTech Computer Science Engineering, Membership Head and Preeti Mudliar, Assistant Professor and Faculty Sponsor of the chapter. The ACM SIGCHI Student Chapter is launching its chapter activities with a monthly series called drag {design} drop {tech} that comprises talks, workshops, from industry professionals as well as academics, and field visits.
Kartik Joshi, Treasurer of the Chapter shares his view about the launch and objectives of the IIITB ACM SIGCHI. He says,” It was heartening to have our official chapter launch with the ACM-sponsored monthly event series Drag {Design} Drop {Tech} with eminent guests from Samsung R&D Institute, Bangalore. With each wick of the lamp being lit at the launch, reminded me of some of the developments of the past months – from the time we as a group collectively came along to start and initiate the ACM SIGCHI Student chapter at our institute at the behest of Prof Preeti Mudliar, having fruitful discussions with our peers – especially the students of the M.Sc. Digital Society program, and navigating the process of chartering a student chapter associated with a prestigious organization with global presence i.e. ACM under the aegis of the SIGCHI. We wrote a proposal for funding and received a grant to conduct events and workshops for our student community. Our aim is to evangelize and promote HCI and Design at the institute.”
