This research paper was presented at the 23rd annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference (opens in new tab) (IDC 2024) the premier forum for inclusive child-centered design and learning.  Between 2016 and 2018, Microsoft Research and the Developer Division developed Microsoft MakeCode, a versatile, free web-based platform aimed at teaching coding. While MakeCode  

The ways people engage with technology, through its design and functionality, determine its utility and acceptance in everyday use, setting the stage for widespread adoption. When computing tools and services respect the diversity of people’s experiences and abilities, technology is not only functional but also universally accessible. Human-computer interaction (HCI) plays a crucial role in this process, examining how technology integrates into our daily lives and exploring ways digital tools can be shaped to meet individual needs and enhance our […]

GEHRKE: We’ve talked a little bit beforehand, but you’ve had this amazing career in tech. How did you actually … tell us a bit about how you grew up, and how did you end up in tech? NICOLE FORSGREN: Yeah, it’s, you know, it’s, kind of, this ridiculous story. I grew up in a little farm town and ended up going to college and thought I would just be there a year or two because … GEHRKE: Little farm town […]

For those of us who have transitioned to working from home over the course of the last year, we must navigate a strange new manifestation of mobility. Far-flung colleagues appear almost magically in grid format on a screen right in front of our faces, despite their remote locations. Yet at the same time, a document, presentation, piece of content, or part of a running application already at our fingertips is awkward to share with others on the same video call. […]