Human-Centered and Participatory Approaches Toward Physical Computing

Abstract: How can we design physical computing systems that are not only functional but also meaningful to society and inclusive for the people who use them? In this teaching talk, I will introduce some key concepts in physical computing while highlighting how human-centered design and participatory approaches can shape the development of interactive systems. Through sharing experiences from my previous research, I’ll explore how physical systems can be prototyped to respond to real-world needs, especially in contexts where communities are actively involved in the design process. This session emphasizes accessible, thoughtful, and socially responsive approaches to learning and teaching physical computing and information systems more broadly.

Bio: Hasan Mahmud Prottoy is a Ph.D. candidate in Human-Centered Computing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). He holds an M.Sc. in Human-Centered Computing from UMBC and a B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). His dissertation examines how individuals and communities adapt digital technologies in contexts with infrastructural constraints, using ethnographic and participatory methods. His research spans environmental justice, urban cycling, the after-use phase of technology, and informal marketplaces. He has taught courses on Human-Computer Interaction and Computational Thinking and Design, and is passionate about making computing education accessible, hands-on, and critically engaged with social, ethical, and environmental contexts.