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Distributed & Interactive Systems Group

Our research group focuses on facilitating and improving the way people use interactive systems and how people communicate with each other. We combine data science with a strong human-centric, empirical approach to understand the experience of users. This enables us to design and develop next generation intelligent and empathic systems. We base our results on realistic testing grounds and data sets, and embrace areas such as ubiquitous computing, human-centered multimedia systems, and languages.

The group addresses key problems for society and science, following a multi-disciplinary approach. This results in a full-stack methodology that enables us to bridge socio-technical gaps in society and science by instrumenting the appropriate infrastructures and communication protocols using realistic testing grounds.

Distributed and Interactive Systems is an outward-looking research group, that enjoys a number of fruitful partnerships with companies and organizations in the areas of creative industries, smart cities, automotive industry and wellbeing. Our group transfers knowledge through scientific publications, standards bodies, open-source implementations and consultancy. We pride ourselves on pushing boundaries, leading the way for others to follow.


Pinned Items

Master's Thesis Topics at CWI DIS

Publication date: 2025-05-06

The Distributed & Interactive Systems group at CWI has new open positions for motivated students who would like to work on their Master’s thesis as an internship in the group. Topics include human computer interaction, artificial intelligence, cognitive (neuro-)science and/or interaction design. Keep reading for more information about research topics, requirements and contact information.

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Spring School on Social XR Designated for the First Time as an ACM Seasonal School

Publication date: 2025-07-22

The Spring School on Social XR achieved a significant milestone: for the very first time, it has been officially recognized as an ACM Europe Seasonal School.

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"Fashion Beneath the Skin" - Unique Collaborative Social Virtual Reality Installation

Publication date: 2024-06-18

Thanks to the volumetric video setup by CWI’s DIS group, two remote visitors can simultaneously explore the virtual exhibition.

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Latest News

TRACTION, one of the Top Success Stories in 40 Year of EU Innovation

Publication date: 2025-05-14

A set of tools to foster the creation of opera in community, using technology to reach new audiences and connect artists.

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DIS at CHI 2025

Publication date: 2025-04-23

Research carried out by the Distributed and Interactive Systems (DIS) group from Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) has resulted in contributions to this year’s ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025), to be held in Yokohama, Japan.

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DIS Organizes 3rd Edition of Spring School on Social XR

Publication date: 2025-04-17

The Distributed and Interactive Systems group (DIS) organized the third edition of the Spring School on Social XR. The event took place from 7 to 10 April 2025 and attracted 30 students from various disciplines, including technology, the social sciences, and the humanities.

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New IPN Special Interest Group on Human-Computer Interaction

Publication date: 2025-04-17

The ICT Research Platform Nederland (IPN), has recently approved a new Special Interest Group (SIG) on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). This group will be led by Prof. Alessandro Bozzon (TU Delft), Prof. Pablo Cesar (CWI and TU Delft), and Prof. Judith Masthoff (University of Utrecht)

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