معرفی
Jacob O. Wobbrock is a Professor of Information at the University of Washington's Information School, with a courtesy appointment in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. He directs the ACE Lab, serves as Associate Director and founding Co-Director Emeritus of the CREATE center, and is a founding member of the DUB Group and MHCI+D degree program. His research focuses on human-computer interaction with emphasis on accessible and mobile computing, seeking to scientifically understand people's experiences with interactive technologies and improve those experiences through innovative design.
Professor Wobbrock's educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University (2006)
- M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University (2000)
- B.S. in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University (1998)
Wobbrock's research centers on scientifically understanding people's performance and experiences with interactive technologies, with particular focus on designing better interaction techniques and systems for people with disabilities. His work spans text entry, pointing, touch, and gesture interfaces; human performance measurement and modeling; mobile HCI; and virtual reality. He pioneered the concept of Ability-Based Design, which advocates for designing technologies that work well across the ability spectrum rather than creating specialized solutions only for people with disabilities. His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate continued innovation in accessible computing, particularly for blind and low-vision users through projects like SceneVR, A11yShape, and VizXpress.
Professor Wobbrock's scientific contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards:
- ACM Fellow (2021)
- CHI Academy (2019)
- SIGCHI Social Impact Award (2017)
- NSF CAREER Award (2010)
- Four 10-year lasting impact awards (ASSETS 2019, ICMI 2022, UIST 2024, ASSETS 2025)
Wobbrock has successfully mentored numerous Ph.D. students who now hold faculty positions at top institutions including Harvard, Cornell, Colorado, Washington, Brown, and Simon Fraser. His research has been supported by significant funding, including an NSF CAREER award and seven other National Science Foundation grants. He also has industry experience as co-founder and former CEO of AnswerDash, which was acquired by CloudEngage in 2020, bringing practical insights to his academic work.
Professor Wobbrock directs the ACE Lab (Advanced Computing Experiences Laboratory), which is part of the larger DUB Group, a cross-campus consortium of HCI researchers at the University of Washington. He is also Associate Director and founding Co-Director Emeritus of the CREATE center (Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences), which focuses on developing accessible technologies and educational opportunities in this field. These labs provide rich interdisciplinary environments for students and researchers working on cutting-edge problems in accessibility and human-computer interaction.
