Program Overview

Introduction to the Master's Program in Human-Technology Interaction

The Master's program in Human-Technology Interaction (HTI) at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate the feasibility of new technological developments in the light of human values, goals, limitations, and capabilities.

Program Structure

The program is structured with a mix of core courses and elective courses, allowing students to tailor their education to their own interests and ambitions. In the second year, students can also choose to participate in an international semester or an internship, followed by additional elective courses before starting their graduation project.

Core Courses

The core courses include:

• UX design
• Advanced data analysis
• Metascience
• A special challenge-based project where students apply the methods they have learned in practice

Track Robots for Humans

The track Robots for Humans is embedded in the master's program in Human-Technology Interaction (HTI). Students in this track gain knowledge and skills to assess the feasibility of new technological developments in the light of human values, goals, limitations, and capabilities, with a focus on the tangible and embodied nature of human-robot interaction.

Courses within the Track Robots for Humans

The core courses for this direction include:

• Advanced Social Psychology, focusing on a better understanding of the social nature of humans based on theories of social perception, self-presentation, attitude formation and change, social pressure, and prejudices, moral behavior, group behavior, and consumer behavior, all in relation to human interaction with technology.
• Human-Robot Interaction, studying how humans and robots interact with each other, considering both technological and psychological aspects and the ethical dimensions of these interactions.
• Human-AI Interaction, helping students understand the current and future impact of AI on interactions between humans and technology and the relationships between humans and technology.
• Ethics of Technology, where students learn to use philosophical theories and concepts to deal with the ethical aspects of technology.

Elective Courses

In addition to the core courses, students can choose from a variety of elective courses within the program or from other TU/e faculties, such as Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Mathematics and Computer Science. Recommended technical courses include Sensors, Linear Systems, Signals and Control, Embedded Signal Processing Systems, Control Engineering, Machine Learning Engineering, and Advanced Materials for Soft Robotics.

Graduation Project

The Master's program at TU/e concludes with a graduation project that takes up two quarters of the program and is often conducted within an organization in the relevant domain. Given that Brainport has more than 5,000 high-tech and IT companies, the region offers a wide range of opportunities to find a place that suits the student's interests. Together with the supervisor from the company and academic supervisors, the student formulates a practical, scientific, and relevant research question.

Studying Abroad

In an increasingly connected world, the opportunity to spend part of the program abroad can be a valuable experience for an international career in technological innovation, including robotics. The Master's in Human-Technology Interaction therefore offers the possibility to go abroad in the first two quarters of the second year of the program.

Conclusion

The Master's program in Human-Technology Interaction at Eindhoven University of Technology, with its track in Robots for Humans, provides a comprehensive education in the field of human-technology interaction, focusing on the design, development, and evaluation of technological systems that are intuitive, user-friendly, and socially responsible. The program prepares students for a career in research, design, and development of innovative technologies that enhance human well-being and performance.