Steve Whittaker

Steve Whittaker is Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the University of California at Santa Cruz. He conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of social science and computer science, focusing on how technology affects human memory, communication, and personal information management. His current research explores human-centric AI systems, mental health technologies, and digital identity.

His research interests center on designing interactive systems that support human needs in digital environments. He investigates how people manage digital information, remember personal experiences through lifelogging, and interact with conversational agents and social robots. His work emphasizes computational well-being, affective computing, and the social implications of technology use. He has made foundational contributions to the fields of personal information management (PIM), computer-mediated communication (CMC), and human-robot interaction.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward mental health technology, human-AI interaction, and digital well-being. His work spans from theoretical models of emotion and memory to practical systems for mental health apps, chatbots, and immersive visualization. He frequently publishes in top-tier venues such as CHI, CSCW, and IUI, often in collaboration with researchers across disciplines.

• Lifetime Research Achievement Award from SIGCHI
• Fellow of the Association for Computational Machinery (ACM)
• Member of the CHI Academy
• Lasting Impact Award from ACM CSCW
• Best Paper Award at CSCW10
• Best Paper Award at CHI07
• Honourable Mention at ACM CHI 2020
• Multiple best paper nominations at CHI, CSCW, and IUI
• MIT Siegel Prize

Steve Whittaker has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students, though specific names are not listed in the provided text. His research has been funded by major grants from NSF, NIH, and industry partners, enabling long-term studies on digital behavior and system development. He is Editor of the journal Human Computer Interaction and has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications. His most recent book, The Science of Managing Our Digital Stuff (MIT Press), co-authored with Ofer Bergman, synthesizes decades of research on personal information management.

He leads a vibrant research lab at UC Santa Cruz that focuses on human-centered computing, where students and collaborators work on projects involving AI, mental health, digital memory, and social interaction. The lab has produced influential work on lifelogging, email management, telepresence robots, and algorithmic transparency. The team employs mixed methods, combining qualitative studies with system design and evaluation.