Stanford CS547 HCI Seminar | Autumn 2026 | Sensing Uncertainty in Sustainable HCI

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The talk provides valuable insights into the intersection of sustainability and human-computer interaction by shifting focus from long-term rebound effects to immediate sensing uncertainty. The argumentation is solid, built on empirical studies with families and woodworkers, and the development of a novel system (Ubench) that demonstrates practical interventions. The speaker effectively synthesizes multiple projects, showing how uncertainty can be ‘made ready to hand’ through tangible interfaces and visualization. The reasoning is clear and well-supported with examples, though at times it could benefit from more quantitative evidence, especially regarding the effectiveness of Ubench.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The presentation is scientifically rigorous, rooted in peer-reviewed research and fieldwork. The speaker cites her own published work and references the low-carbon innovation paradox and literature on sustainable computing. The sources mentioned include the Stanford HCI seminar page and the graduate education program, though the talk itself does not provide many external citations. The title accurately captures the essence of the talk, which is about the role of uncertainty in sensing for sustainable HCI, and the content aligns well with this theme.

The title accurately reflects the content: the talk focuses on sensing uncertainty in sustainable HCI, presenting research on how sensor data can be unreliable and how interfaces can help users cope with uncertainty.

8/10

The talk is given by a reputable professor and is based on published research and empirical studies, covering multiple projects with detailed examples. The presentation is well-structured and provides a clear argument for embracing uncertainty in sustainable HCI.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction to the talk and overview of sustainability challenges, e-waste, and the low-carbon innovation paradox.
• 05:00Definition of sensing uncertainty and introduction to the projects to be discussed.
• 15:00Background on upcycling and IoT, and the field study with 10 families in Pittsburgh.
• 25:00Detailed examples from family study, including Sheila's custom systems and her use of physical artifacts to track breakdowns.
• 35:00Discussion of woodworker study and the design rationale for Ubench system.
• 45:00Demonstration of Ubench, including moisture and metal detection pens and in-situ design feedback.
• 55:00Connection to data visualization and uncertainty, with examples from the COVID-19 pandemic; concluding thoughts.

• Stanford HCI Seminar Schedule — The seminar series page where this talk is listed, providing context for the talk and additional resources.
• Stanford Online Graduate Education — Information about Stanford's graduate programs, mentioned at the start of the video description.