Understanding, respecting, crossing and even expanding boundaries is a part of our daily lives. Boundaries underpin not only geographical and cultural differences between countries, but also differences between sectors and scientific disciplines. Understanding boundaries is an integral part of human computer interaction. It is a part of understanding how people behave and what they value, of designing technologies, of learning how people express their needs, intentions and feelings, of designing HCI technologies and of evaluating them.

Extending boundaries of HCI is a part of its evolution. HCI has evolved as a discipline, from focusing on motor skills, to emphasising cognitive processing, moving to contextual technologies surrounding us. Furthermore, HCI evolves in interaction with other disciplines. Much as it is important to stay within boundaries and be true to its roots, HCI evolves. Like boundaries, HCI has many facets where openness to communities, disciplines and people is essential for growth.

While geography, nations and culture are old and evolve slowly, the discipline of HCI is young. This should encourage practitioners and researchers alike to think beyond, not only 10 or 20 years ahead, but towards grand challenges, yet knowing that every single advance, however small, is a key to accomplishing goals.

Selecting Extending boundaries as the theme of NordiCHI 2010, the organizers want to encourage contributors and participants to consider HCI’s boundaries, staying within them, or to think beyond them to address grand challenges.

NordiCHI will be held for the first time in Reykjavik in 2010. Iceland’s unspoiled nature, the sea, glaciers, volcanic mountains and lava fields, offers participants many opportunities to explore it on short or long trips. Iceland, being located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge dividing the European and American continental plates, is easily accessible via air from these continents, offering participants a premium location for a conference.