The 11th Ibero-American Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (11JIHC’25) was held at the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, providing a vibrant forum where a project involving a Unicaucana student stood out—a proposal aimed at supporting older adults in navigating spaces easily and safely.

From May 5 to 7, at the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (Mexico), the 11th Ibero-American Conference on Human-Computer Interaction brought together researchers, students, and professionals from diverse fields to explore how technological evolution is reshaping human and social experiences.

As part of the conference agenda, the UX-EVE summer school welcomed students from Mexico, Peru, and Colombia. This activity, designed to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability in user experience design, invited emerging professionals to present innovative proposals involving the use of technology.

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The winning team was composed of Manuela Gaviria, a student in the Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering program at Universidad del Cauca; Anyi Villalpando (Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas); Valentina Vargas (Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Colombia); and Evangelina García (Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico)—talented young women who presented their proposal “Technology at the Pace of Aging: Smart and Accessible Mobility.”

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“Assistive technologies play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for older adults by supporting their independence and autonomy in daily tasks. A new era of urban mobility is emerging—smart mobility. Business models inspired by the sharing economy and digital technologies are driving innovative ways to move from one place to another: think ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft, or car and bike sharing programs,” explained Manuela Gaviria.

This compelling proposal focuses on helping older adults move safely and effortlessly through specific areas using a tech-based application. It also introduces the option of multimodal transport, enabling older travelers to select the most suitable transport option in a given context—ensuring arrival at their destination with minimal effort, in the shortest time possible, and with a focus on accessibility. Why is this important? Because it guarantees ease of use with minimal physical and cognitive demands. It’s worth noting that this topic is part of ongoing research by the IDIS group at the Faculty of Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering at our Alma Mater.

Moreover, the winning team has been invited to submit their project for potential publication in one of the journals affiliated with the Ibero-American Conference on Human-Computer Interaction.

Professor César Alberto Collazos, a member of the Ibero-American Network HCI-COLLAB, expressed his gratitude to the conference organizing committee for their outstanding work in bringing this significant event to life, “A heartfelt thank you for creating such an enriching space for the exchange of ideas, experiences, and advances in the field of human-computer interaction across Ibero-America. The quality of the presentations, the warmth of the welcome, and the impeccable organization made this a truly memorable experience.”

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He also highlighted the growing impact of this event, “Thank you for offering us such a beautiful gathering that went beyond the academic—it became a true reunion with colleagues and friends. These meetings not only nurture us professionally but also strengthen the human bonds that make our HCI-COLLAB network so special.”

Finally, from this institution that is #HeritageForAll, we proudly celebrate the achievement of our student Manuela Gaviria, who, together with her team, developed a proposal that will undoubtedly contribute to improving the quality of life for older adults. It fills us with pride to see our students and faculty, from various fields, raising high the blue and red Unicaucano colors on international academic stages, reaffirming our commitment to research and academic excellence.

 

Written by: Communications Management Center