We interact with computers every day—perhaps even more often than with other people. With his field of research, "Computational Interaction," Prof. Dr. Patrick Ebel will develop computational user models at HPI that simulate human behavior. The aim is to progressively improve human–computer interaction.
With the appointment of Prof. Dr. Patrick Ebel, the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) is expanding its expertise in human–machine interaction. Since March 1, 2026, Prof. Dr. Patrick Ebel has headed the new research area "Computational Interaction" at the joint Digital Engineering Faculty of the HPI and the University of Potsdam.
The challenge in his field of research is that more and more computers are becoming integrated into everyday life, and these systems are growing increasingly intelligent and complex. The work of Prof. Ebel’s research group is intended to help develop intelligent interactive systems in a way that aligns with users’ goals, abilities, and intentions.
Models instead of human testers
To this end, Ebel uses models that simulate human perception, cognition and motor control. With the help of these models, interactive systems can be evaluated quickly and cost-effectively to develop user-friendly technology. He already focused on the data-driven evaluation of in-vehicle information systems during his PhD, which he completed in 2023.
At HPI he and his team aim to advance computational user models toward "simulated users". "We will integrate models of cognition, perception, and biomechanics," says Prof. Ebel. "I am looking forward to working with HPI's excellent researchers and talented students and hope I can offer a new perspective on how to design and build interactive systems."
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